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civilizationwhite guiltwhitenesswhy immigratewild dogswind millswinterwireless deviceswomenwood burning stoveswoodcutswoodswork ethicworkweekworld communismworld in 2030world readyworld schoolworld temperatureswrong answersxenophobeyellow labyogic farmingyouthzettabyteszoning regulationsROMANIAN CONSERVATIVEMy view of the world through personal experience, 30 years of teaching, travel, research, and life under totalitarian communism and under crony capitalism.http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)Blogger701125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-6870166759683073077Wed, 29 Jul 2015 23:01:00 +00002015-07-29T16:01:56.192-07:00dependencyefficiencyequalitygovernmentlaissez fairetaxeswelfareEquality, Efficiency, and Dependency <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Countries run more efficiently when there is less government intervention. Government certainly has its role in providing a strong military, adequate border defense, police and fire protection, and education. <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately government intervention in the free market has caused again and again more harm than good. And government has now become a Hydra that we fail to legally slay. Voting in a new government has been discouraging; it is now impossible to rid ourselves of the encroaching octopus with sharped-edged suckers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contrary to economic <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">laissez faire</i>, President Bush said in 2008, “I’ve abandoned free market principles to save the free market system.” In other words, because his administration attempted unsuccessfully to reign in the Democrats with their entitlement plans to lend money for homes to people who could not afford them and then disabled regulations that would have checked bank loans and mortgages, he had to prop up the too-big-to-fail bankers whose bankruptcy would have sent painful shockwaves around the world and would have upset the crony capitalists. The taxpayers were forced to the rescue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The non-stop tirade of the “rich do not pay their fair share” and “you did not build that” began the vilification of small and large businessmen, followed by the marginalization and destruction of the middle class, the very geese that lay the golden eggs. The government nanny must be in total control of every facet of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Productivity, the industrial revolution, manufacturing are better left to other parts of the world. The new global order dictates that we must now be a service society, government-catering to the “hope and change” new citizens coming from far-flung corners of the illiterate third-world kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can’t make a “living wage” at your minimum-wage job? It’s the fault of the rich! You vote for a living, stay on welfare, have out-of-wedlock babies, drop anchor-babies, and keep bringing in the flotsam of the world to replace the millions of babies aborted since Roe v. Wade. Make sure you vote into office the same corrupt politicians that keep you perennially poor under the guise of protection; you are dumb enough after graduating from a Common Core school to believe that it’s the fault of the rich who keep you “down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you accept any personal responsibility for your boorish behavior, drug use, lack of motivation, poor education, sloth, and lack of job skills? Nanny government tells you it is not your fault; you are entitled to the wealth of the rich. And when the rich run out of money, because socialists always run out of other people’s money, they can fleece the middle class, people who worked hard for a living, got an education, and paid taxes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s rich pay taxes to support the government and the welfare state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The rich of long ago, after taxation, even though still wealthy, did not enjoy the comforts that you have in your alleged poverty of today. In the winter of 1695, when the climate change industry did not exist, the wine at the palace of Versailles froze in the fancy goblets at King Louis XIV’s table. Even in the nineteenth century America, the ink froze in the inkwells in winter time, that’s how cold and miserable life was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Pennsylvania legislature almost destroyed George Washington’s army quartered at Valley Forge. The government decided to try price controls on commodities that were needed by Washington’s army. No farmer with a large family to support was dumb enough to sell their produce at controlled prices when the British were paying in gold. The army almost starved to death in the winter of 1777-1778. The unwise government price controls brought the army to its knees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Government does not believe in Adam Smith’s “invisible hand;” there is no such thing as people, by pursuing their own self-interest, are led by an invisible hand to promote the well-being of the community. The government must intervene because they know best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If government does not dictate every last rule and regulation in great detail, how much and what we can eat, what we can drink, how much salt we can ingest, what doctors we can see, what homes we can live in, what cars we can drive, how much electricity we use, how much water we can have, what crops to plant, we are doomed to failure. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To avoid massive voter fraud, by the time the drive for a national “voter” I.D. becomes reality, we will all be chipped and the government will know where we are at all times, just like dogs and cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Government intervention to slay the war on poverty has perpetuated and deepened poverty after spending trillions of dollars. In spite of Affirmative Action programs and other wealth redistribution schemes aimed at destroying social injustice, people are still differently-abled by birth; some like to work more than others; some are risk takers and others are comfortable in their status-quo; some like to work the night shift while others no shift at all, they are happy with government handouts; some like to go to school and learn new things, while others enjoy partying and living it up; some don’t stay<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>on any job long enough to get work experience; why try if welfare is literally forced upon the sloth and unmotivated; some have inherited wealth that must be confiscated for the common good; others who built an enterprise did not really built that, it just happened by magic, it came via the public roads; and others were just plain lucky and thus does not deserve the fruits of their labor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keynesian economists have been telling us for decades that “America has more income inequality than other wealthy nations” and this miscalculated inequality “has been on the rise in the last 25 years.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>But none of these calculations include welfare, free medical care, WIC, and other similar programs. They are strictly looking at income disparities born by many factors connected to lacking personal responsibility, education, and the dissolution of the family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can tweak statistics to prove whatever you set out to prove so calculations of this “inequality” does not include the many financial dependency programs currently in place. According to the U.S. Census, there are over “100 million Americans who receive at least one welfare program run by the federal government and it does include Social Security and Medicare.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even Keynesian economists admit that policies that redistribute wealth or income reduce the rewards of high income earners, raising the rewards of low-income earners, thus reducing the incentive to earn high income. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>We trade economic efficiency for equality and create a nation of dependents who would rather stay home and draw benefits from those who still work. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a fact that 70 percent of all government spending involves programs that create government dependence. According to the Congressional Budget Office, 60 percent of all U.S. households get more transfer payments than they pay in taxes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>“Terrence P. Jeffrey calculated that 86 million Americans work full-time in the private sector while 148 million Americans receive benefits from the government.” </span><a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/18-stats-that-prove-that-government-dependence-has-reached-epidemic-levels"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri;">http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/18-stats-that-prove-that-government-dependence-has-reached-epidemic-levels</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Education was for many generations a way out of poverty when the family was intact. But when the family unit was destroyed by a government that stepped in as the daddy for generations of fatherless children, college costs have escalated, and professional jobs were shipped overseas at an alarming rate, it was hard to sell education anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Government and Democrats have advocated spending more money on pre-school programs and on inner-city children but the results were dismal. And the uneducated adults could not be lifted out of poverty; they remained on inter-generational government dole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have certainly tried for generations to alleviate poverty through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed forms of discrimination in rates of pay and hiring standards and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Equal pay for equal work was a daunting if not impossible parameter because we are different in our ability, education, experience, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Affirmative action stepped in with hiring quotas for minorities and females. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem was that many who were given this preferential treatment over other hires were really less qualified or not qualified at all. They were expected to learn on the job. Critics argued that numerical quotas and compulsory hiring of unqualified workers was certainly a problem in many professions, including the field of education. Replacing qualified “white males” with “other, less qualified workers” was certainly counterproductive and inefficient. Proponents of quotas countered that it was necessary to redress past wrongs, especially slavery. “Putting more women and members of minority groups into high-paying jobs would certainly make the income distribution more equal,” affirmative action supporters argued. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today the important economic balance of efficiency over equality is completely discounted by Democrats and their supporters who are arguing for a complete replacement of the free market system with socialism on the ideological belief that everything white men have accomplished has been tinged with racism, bigotry, and inequality and only adopting the Marxist ideology would redress that problem. Certainly these Democrats have not studied the recent case of Venezuela and its economic woes resulting from a full-blown socialist poverty state established by the late Hugo Chavez. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a lot to be said about government control from cradle to grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A population fully dependent on an omnipotent government is easier to control in a high-rise city dwelling setting than spread out over miles on the land. And when government runs out of other people’s money, it will have to scale back and possibly withdraw the largesse to the generationally dependent. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The free market mechanism is efficient but it does not promote the total equality desired by Marxist supporters. Such equality must be achieved by force, by government fiat, redistributing to the world the “unjust and unearned income and wealth” of billions of enterprising people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>When that is achieved, we will have reached Orwellian utopia. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lucky for us, total government control works because they know what is best for us – nuclear armament of Iran, our sworn enemy, and a peaceful invasion with illegal immigrants brought from third world nations that will quietly complete the fundamental transformation of our expansionist evil empire into a malleable tin pot dictatorship. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will be turned into an irrelevant impoverished nation as envisioned by the Washington political elites, a nation ruled by a one-party government that worships primitive cultures and obedient welfare-dependent subjects and favors global economic de-development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The low information voters and welfare recipients will be satisfied with a minimum, grateful that the “man” sends them a check every month in exchange for nothing. The fact that governments do not produce anything of value seems to escape their understanding and, without the hard labor of many, their undeserved and unearned “entitlements” would not arrive promptly every month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/equality-efficiency-and-dependency.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-9207802653123047041Wed, 22 Jul 2015 04:29:00 +00002015-07-21T21:36:16.946-07:00CaprilDomitila catacombsfast rainsFlorence. AnacapriRomeSorrentoSorrento and Capri<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ6t5brQHf0/Va8bAPTVvXI/AAAAAAAAB8c/mLlvNeHYaN0/s1600/256px-Grotta_azzurra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ6t5brQHf0/Va8bAPTVvXI/AAAAAAAAB8c/mLlvNeHYaN0/s1600/256px-Grotta_azzurra.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blue Grotto (photo: Wikipedia)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">The Blue Grotto was an elusive dream I've had ever since I learned the superstition that kissing your mate while inside meant spending a lifetime together - it sounded so romantic and I was always a hopeless romantic.<br /><br />Our journey started in Verona, Italy. We took the fast train to Rome. Because I speak Italian, we maneuvered easily among the crowds, purchased our tickets from the automated machines placed all over the station and thus avoided the crowds and the long lines. <br /><br />First class tickets were twice as expensive so we settled for second class. I am used to being a second class citizen, traveling in cramped quarters, and flying with my knees bent to my chin. <br /><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D47fVbs93pM/Va8bXdpVdJI/AAAAAAAAB8k/zm0xbetmCEo/s1600/Frecciarossa%2Bhigh%2Bspeed%2Btrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D47fVbs93pM/Va8bXdpVdJI/AAAAAAAAB8k/zm0xbetmCEo/s1600/Frecciarossa%2Bhigh%2Bspeed%2Btrain.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Freciarossa High Speed Train</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>Fast trains in Italy, however, even in second class are very comfortable, clean, and right down luxurious when compared to other countries. <br /><br />Italian train stations are clean but crowded, with insufficient, smelly, and out of the way bathrooms. Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence, our first stop, was no exception. <br /><br />The fast train, run by Trenitalia, Gruppo Ferrovie Dello Stato, a state-run system, had meal service brought by a steward with a well-appointed cart. The food was fresh and inexpensive. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAZSsP5QfZE/Va8cvVDgyOI/AAAAAAAAB9A/GqvYKyTOEtg/s1600/Ponte%2BVecchio%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAZSsP5QfZE/Va8cvVDgyOI/AAAAAAAAB9A/GqvYKyTOEtg/s320/Ponte%2BVecchio%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Florence - Ponte Vecchio (photo: Ileana Johnson 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>We stopped in Florence for five days with plans to re-board the train later for Rome. We took in the sights, the Duomo, the Boboli Gardens, the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio with its fabulous and expensive gold shops, Piti Palace, the open-air Loggia, David's Statue, the Medici Chapel by Michaelangelo, the colorful open air markets, Piazza della Signoria with the beautiful Loggia, Santa Maria della Croce with its walled and floored tombs of famous politicians, musicians and writers, the gold shops, and the famous leather makers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gy2xMQ5pMYg/Va8bk3z8VoI/AAAAAAAAB8s/54OHzN4P5mE/s1600/939px-Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gy2xMQ5pMYg/Va8bk3z8VoI/AAAAAAAAB8s/54OHzN4P5mE/s320/939px-Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saint Peter's Square</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>Upon our arrival in the Roma Termini station, named after the ancient Baths of Diocletian, against our better judgment, we hired a taxi to take us to our hotel, two blocks from the Vatican. I can honestly say that I was relieved to get out of the tin can taxi with no seat belts. It was very clean and inexpensive, but the driver was so aggressive, we were generally within inches of most cars on both sides, front and back. Italians were honking angrily, shouting obscenities out the window, or flipping each other. This when they were not stopping right in the middle of traffic, getting out of their cars, and engaging in a direct fist fight. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsYQYWVlxUQ/Va8didi6NAI/AAAAAAAAB9I/q17RjZTbOd4/s1600/Milennium%2Bdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsYQYWVlxUQ/Va8didi6NAI/AAAAAAAAB9I/q17RjZTbOd4/s320/Milennium%2Bdoor.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vatican Milenium Door (photo: Ileana Johnson 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>We spent days at the Vatican and taking in the sights and sounds of Rome, the out-of-the way churches with hidden tombs, eerie and smelly catacombs, exquisite statues, monuments, parks, and museums. <br /><br />It was not scary enough to visit Domitila's catacombs once a few years back, I had to go a second time with David. Against my better judgment, I agreed. I can honestly say that it was the first and last time I had gotten mosquito bites underground. <br /><br />We were so overwhelmed by beauty, art, and architecture, after a while, we became like the rest of Italians, appreciative of everything surrounding us but unable to find the words or feelings to express its beauty anymore. How will it feel like returning to our simple, unadorned surroundings in America?<br /><br />Fontana di Trevi and the Spanish steps were required stops - we threw coins in the fountain to make sure that we would return to Rome someday.<br /><br />The highlight was the Cappuchin Monks’ chapel with its bone collection of thousands and thousands who had been exhumed and turned into decorative art in the chapel. As much as I had wanted to see it, I had missed it on three previous trips because it was under repairs, we could not leave it fast enough; it gave me the creeps and the stench of death was nauseating.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlavVr2TB8k/Va8byfd8gqI/AAAAAAAAB80/aDHeQNmuYxw/s1600/250px-Sorrento_and_mtvesuvius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlavVr2TB8k/Va8byfd8gqI/AAAAAAAAB80/aDHeQNmuYxw/s1600/250px-Sorrento_and_mtvesuvius.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorrento and Mt. Vesuvius<br />Photo: Wikipedia</td></tr></tbody></table>Next stop was five days in Sorrento. We had spent five days visiting Florence, five days visiting Rome and we had traveled by fast train every leg of the journey. We abandoned the rail and decided to join a busload of people of all ages and nationalities to Sorrento and to the Island of Capri. <br /><br />The tour guide was a dashing Italian with a boundless love of women and little patience for anything else. We had to run on Guido's time or no time at all. I had promised David that I would behave and abide by Guido's schedule and outlandish rules. While holding my fingers crossed behind my back, I promised that I would not slip into Ileana's time machine and take my sweet time for pictures or sightseeing. <br /><br />Guido preferred sitting in a busy cafe, feast his eyes on women, drink wine, smoke, and look sophisticated while sweating profusely in his elegantly tailored linen clothes. I wanted to walk all over town, I did not want to miss a thing - the vistas, the architecture, the blooming flowers, the shops, the people, the street vendors, the fruit stands, the dizzying drops to the sea, and the Roman road markers. I was on a quest for the perfect Sorrento music box to add to my collection with the melody, "Torno a Sorriento." I was definitely a thorn in Guido's side.<br /><br />Sorrento would be a sleepy provincial town if it was not for an unending stream of tourists, foreign and domestic, coming by bus loads struggling to inch away from the rocks flanking the narrow roads. <br /><br />Sorrento is nestled in the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples, a small town in Campania, southern Italy, with some 16,500 inhabitants. It is a very popular tourist destination which can be reached easily from Naples and Pompeii. Many viewpoints from the city allow sight of Naples, Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri.<br /><br />The Amalfi Drive which connects Sorrento and Amalfi is a narrow road that threads along the high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a "mamma mia" moment to look over my shoulder to the mile drop below. <br /><br />Ferry boats and hydrofoils provide services to Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. Sorrento's sea cliffs and luxury hotels are very famous. Dave and I stayed in a gorgeous four star hotel with hand-painted tiled floors. Our balcony overlooked the bay. The beauty was not just in the perfect scenery, the carved rock formations, wild flowers, azzure blue waters, sunshine, and spectacular vistas, but the accommodations and the food were fit for kings.<br /><br />We could not go to Sorrento without tasting its famous limoncello, a “digestivo” made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar. The balmy, Mediterranean climate with its rich volcanic ash soil grows huge citrus fruit, grapes, nuts and olives. <br /><br />Wood craftsmanship is a fine art; like everything else, Italians do it to perfection. On a factory visit, we witnessed the carving of the intricate cameos, made from sea shells, painstakingly whittled on the end of a short stick, nestled in the bleeding, blistered palms of a master craftsman. I finally understood why cameos were so expensive and precious, they were literally carved in sweat and pain.<br /><br />We took a ferry boat to reach the Island of Capri. From there, we were planning to take a hydrofoil, a smaller boat, and finally a dingy in order to reach the Blue Grotto. It was early June and the sea was agitated and choppy but not as bad as it could have been in winter time. It was dicey to actually enter the naturally carved cave. <br /><br />We were determined to climb Capri on foot to the top in order to visit the remains of Roman Emperor Tiberius' villa. It took us a good three and a half hours, but it was worth every effort. The historical significance and the breathtaking views were indescribable. Forgotten was the fact that we could only find one bathroom on the way to the top and did not have enough water by the time we reached the summit. We overlooked simple things such as food and water. We were in awe of Roman history, archeology, breathtaking views, the rocky Mediterranean landscape and the colorful flora in every fenced yard. A few lazy cats watched us curiously from the top of stone fences.<br /><br />Tiberius was a cruel emperor who habitually hurled his enemies, people he disliked or crossed him, over the top wall of his villa into the foaming sea below. It was scary peering down the very spot where so many Romans met a swift and cruel death. We paused to admire the ruins and to imagine what must have been like living under such duress in Tiberius' villa.<br /><br />Capri is not a very populated island, it has roughly 7,300 inhabitants. Anacapri is located on the opposing side of the island. The name comes from wild goats or from the Greek for wild boars. None of these wild animals are currently residing on the island. <br /><br />There is a small beach area with smooth rocks instead of sand, quite difficult and painful to walk on or sit on. Once you hit the turquoise waters though, it is worth the pain.<br /><br />The naturally carved rock formations are absolutely spectacular from a distance and up close. The most interesting is the Grotta Azzura, a naturally occurring cave which reflects light from two holes, one above the water and one below, giving the cave water its unusual filtered bright turquoise blue appearance. Visitors can only access it with a small two-passenger row boat. The Italian rower, as well as the passengers must lie back in the boat in order to clear the short and narrow opening without being decapitated. Once inside, the cave is quite large. Statues had been found inside dating back to Roman times. <br /><br />We were treated to an Italian canzone while inside The Blue Grotto and I finally got the romantic kiss from the love of my life. <o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copyright: Ileana Johnson 2015</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/sorrento-and-capri.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-25630137020962350Tue, 21 Jul 2015 03:07:00 +00002015-07-20T20:07:05.904-07:00abortionsbaby body partscalvariumJosef MengeleMargaret Sangerorgan harvestPlanned Parenthood or Mengelian Research <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the late 1970s, freshly off the boat of communist misery, I got my first job, assistant to an accountant. I had no idea what accounting was, but I was willing to learn, and was really good at everything math, thanks to my excellent communist education that, aside from Marxist indoctrination, made sure that I learned calculus, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and statistics. No bizarre common core math. Language and the ability to write a complete sentence with flowery adjectives and descriptive adverbs would come in handy when trying to write a defensive letter to the IRS, excusing a client who had to pay a hefty fine. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My second job was bookkeeper and secretary for a pathologist who received excised organs, limbs, tumors, tissue slides, and aborted fetuses from the area’s hospitals. That was a ghoulish, smelly, and nauseating job. I knew I could learn a lot if I could get past my personal beliefs, the smell of preserved flesh, and the lugubrious laughter of the pathologist with his bushy eyebrows and a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine every time he ordered his lab assistant to go to the basement and retrieve a certain specimen floating in formaldehyde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>His collection went back decades and only certain people were privy to its contents. Newbies were always frightened and most did not stay very long.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was responsible for billing hospitals for pathological examinations and diagnoses of various specimens. Every Wednesday the boss ordered pizza for everyone and we had to learn to eat around human body parts and slides with microscopic tissue samples without throwing up. It was not difficult when I got pregnant because I was throwing up anyway. I learned to take my lunch outside and tried to eat in the fresh air. It was impossible to neutralize the smell of flesh and formaldehyde that lingered in my nostrils.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was the most difficult to stomach, aside from handling dangerous and potentially infectious parts and tissue, were the fully-formed fetuses that had been killed and dismembered during abortion procedures. Life created by God was disposed of by incineration just like any diseased body parts that had been removed during surgery, studied under a microscope, and a diagnosis established.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I eventually left, a few months later, I was emotionally exhausted from crying for all the babies that never got a chance to live and grow to adulthood. I kept an electric candle on my desk all the time. I questioned what gave them the right to take someone’s life that God had created, in the name of “reproductive health.” If one is really interested in reproductive well-being, there are thousands of OBGYNs who specialize in women’s reproductive health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I felt the same wave of nausea and threw up in my mouth when I watched the recently surfaced Planned Parenthood video with the young doctor, stuffing her face with salad and drinking red wine, talking glibly about harvesting baby body parts more efficiently without crushing the “calvarium,” the baby’s skull, as if she was talking about chopping up ingredients for a new dish she was cooking. She seemed like a soulless cross between Margaret Sanger and Josef Mengele.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Margaret Sanger (1883-1966), a eugenicist and alleged founder of Planned Parenthood, editor of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Birth Control Review</i>(1917-1938) was an early pioneer in “reproductive health.” She dedicated her life to birth control and eugenics issues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Josef Mengele was infamous for his twisted and ghoulish experiments. His brutal “medical research” was allowed to go on undisturbed in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Sadly, this monster was never brought to justice. He and other masterminds of the Holocaust, the genocide of Jews, gays, priests, and gypsies, were found to be psychologically normal, men of good standing in Nazi society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mengele, the “Angel of Death,” tortured human beings and performed “experiments” of unspeakable and macabre horror. He injected adults and children with toxic drugs and lethal germs, put them into pressure chambers, castrated them, froze them to death, gassed an entire wing of 750 women for having lice, performed experimental surgery without anesthesia, made direct blood transfusions between twins, sex change operations, injections with chemicals to change eye color, and removal of organs and limbs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do not understand progressives who accuse everyone of racism and hate crimes yet they place no value on human life and remain heartless to the plight of millions of babies aborted since Roe v. Wade, calling abortion a “choice.” Aside from instances when a mother’s life is in danger, is it really a “choice” or is it ending the life of a human being that wants to live?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/planned-parenthood-or-mengelian-research.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-5141449508371966029Sat, 18 Jul 2015 14:53:00 +00002015-07-20T20:18:23.710-07:00Agenda 21agricultural easementsBiodiversityconservation easementsFWPMontanaOhioPerry townshipRioRita Windomsocial engineeringConservation Easements in Ohio and in Montana 17 Years Ago<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vKNpRHh2jrE/VapqYdJDkzI/AAAAAAAAB7w/0qgNGgivK4U/s1600/Kidron%252C%2BOhio%252C%2BAmish%2Bcountry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vKNpRHh2jrE/VapqYdJDkzI/AAAAAAAAB7w/0qgNGgivK4U/s320/Kidron%252C%2BOhio%252C%2BAmish%2Bcountry.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amish Country, Ohio <br />Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">United Nations agencies working against the economic needs and wishes of U.S. citizens compiled a blueprint for achieving Sustainable Development called U.N. Agenda 21. This 40-chapter document (about 300 pages) addresses every facet of human life and how Sustainable Development should be implemented through local, state, and federal government. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With its grant-making power (‘visioning grants’ and ‘challenge grants’) and conservation easements, the federal government promoted the Sustainable Development idea and policies to the state and local levels with the creation of an army of new community of Sustainable Development NGOs (non-government organizations) such as the American Planning Association, the Sustainable Resource Center, and the Institute for Sustainable Development. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conservation easements, known also as conservation covenants, agricultural easements, and conservation restrictions are contracts between a landowner and a conservation organization, giving the conservation trust power over the use of the land for years or in perpetuity. Such easements “run with the land,” and present and future landowners must abide by this conservation contract which is recorded in the local land records as the easement becomes part of the title for the property. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conservations easements include a laundry list of objectives established by the land trust and agreed to by the farmer:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maintain and improve water quality (this may include onerous conditions to the farmer’s use or collection of water, including rain puddles and snowmelt)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grow healthy forests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maintain and improve wildlife habitat and migration corridors<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Protect scenic views; anything the farmer may desire to build or plant/grow cannot interfere with the view shed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Land must be managed for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sustainable agriculture and forestry</i></b> as determined by the trust that holds the farmer’s conservation easement and is subject to rigorous and frequent inspections.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Real estate development and subdivisions are strictly forbidden in a conservation easement. The decision to place land under conservation easement for tax benefits is voluntary but the land can become locked in perpetuity, no matter who inherits or buys the land in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The restrictions placed on the land become permanent and it can reduce the resale value of the property.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In every state, the actual conservation easement contract is kept private between the land owner and the land trust. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced its local agricultural easements approved for purchase on June 4, 2015 for “local sponsors to purchase agricultural easements on 54 family farms representing 7,512 acres in 26 counties.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The local sponsors included land trusts, counties, a township, and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. They received funds to make the purchase from the Clean Ohio Fund and to manage the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">LAEPP</b>). The easement purchases are advertised as insurance that “farms remain permanently in agricultural production.” The ulterior motives are much divorced from this public statement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Farmers who want to lock their land in such conservation easement contracts are financially rewarded and must meet certain criteria:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Farm must be larger than 40 acres or next to an already “preserved” farm<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Must actively engage in farming<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prove good stewardship of the land (Farmers already take good care of their land because it represents their livelihood.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be supported by local government<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not be in close proximity to real estate development<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The money received from the conservation easement purchase can be spent any way the farmer wishes; however, “most reinvest it in their farm operation.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Ohio Farmland Preservation program derives its funds from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2008. The purchase of conservation easements is made through a “competitive process” from “willing sellers.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to its website, there are 55,947 acres of land locked in conservation perpetuity, “preserved” under permanent easements. “From 2002-2014, 247 family farms in 53 counties have collectively preserved 45,576 acres in agricultural production.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>A list of counties approved for easements in 2015 is included here. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.agri.ohio.gov/public_docs/news/2015/06.04.15%20Local%20Agricultural%20Easements%20Approved%20for%20Purchase.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.agri.ohio.gov/public_docs/news/2015/06.04.15%20Local%20Agricultural%20Easements%20Approved%20for%20Purchase.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri-Bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The Office of Farmland Preservation lists the 2015 Clean Ohio <b>LAEPP</b> recipients by county, the specific local sponsoring land trust, the name of the farmer, Tier I or Tier II, acreage per farm, ODA’s contribution to the purchase offer in dollars, and the actual final offer. Who is supplying the difference? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Final2015.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Final2015.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri-Bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I imagine that it would be hard for a farmer to turn down an offer of $500,000 to “preserve” his farming land, especially if they were strapped for cash. Often, it is difficult to see the bigger picture in the future, beyond one’s farm, and to understand that such conservation easement contracts are not just about being a good steward of your farm and of the environment. They also represent control of private property and its use.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri-Bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">As a matter of fact, the sample deed for the federal government states on page 18, <b>“To HAVE AND TO HOLD the above-described Agricultural Easement to the use, benefit, and behalf of the Grantees, and the United States and their successors and assigns forever.”</b></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Approved_Sample_Deed_Federal.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Approved_Sample_</span><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Deed</span><span style="color: blue;">_Federal.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">LAEPP)</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> approved sample deed for the state of Ohio. <a href="http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Approved_Sample_Deed_State.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_LAEPP_Approved_Sample_Deed_State.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Ohio Farmland Preservation Map can be found here, including agricultural easements held by ODA and Agricultural Security Areas. </span><a href="http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_ASA_AgMap.pdf"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/docs/Farm_ASA_AgMap.pdf</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Agricultural Security Areas (ASA) are part of a voluntary program for farmers and landowners, administered at the state level as a tool to protect farmland from the “urbanization of rural areas.” Township supervisors handle the petitions for ASA designation status.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/ProgramDetail.aspx?palid=10&amp;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/ProgramDetail.aspx?palid=10&amp;</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sheila Stanifer, Perry Township Trustee, has a problem with these conservation easements. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>According to the Ohio Revised Code 901-2-01 definitions, “‘local sponsor’ or ‘applicant’ means a municipal corporation, county, township, soil and water conservation district, or charitable organization that applies for a matching grant on behalf of the landowner.” The problem arises from the fact that ‘soil and water’ are taking the place of elected officials; charitable trusts (namely land trusts) are not elected officials either, they are land brokers working for the state government as a so-called ‘sponsor.’” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the first and second paragraphs of the federal deed contract mentions are made of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned and operated organization created to “stabilize, support, and protect farm income and prices, maintain balanced and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities and aids in their orderly distribution.” CCC has no operating personnel; its activity is carried out by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The Natural Resources Conservation Service administers several conservation programs under the auspices of CCC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CCC has an authorized capital stock of $100 million, held by the United States, with the authority to have outstanding borrowing of up to $30 billion at any one time. The 1988 Appropriation Act increased the statutory borrowing authority to $30 billion. The funds are borrowed from the U.S. Treasury and from private lending agencies. CCC reserves borrowing authority to purchase at any time all notes and other obligations made by such agencies and others. That is a lot of power over farm activities! </span><a href="http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&amp;subject=landing&amp;topic=pfs&amp;newstype=prfactsheet&amp;type=detail&amp;item=pf_19991101_comop_en_ccc.html"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&amp;subject=landing&amp;topic=pfs&amp;newstype=prfactsheet&amp;type=detail&amp;item=pf_19991101_comop_en_ccc.html</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of these land trusts are also staffed with environmental activists who have never farmed in their lives nor have ever entertained the idea. They want the land preserved for wilderness. Additionally, it is much cheaper and easier to control densely populated urban areas than it is to control rural populations spread over vast areas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seventeen years ago on July 1, 1998, David F. Latham, editor of The Montanian, published a front page article&nbsp;titled “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FWP plans big changes in hunting and rural living, Social engineering is in the works</i>.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) in Montana had prepared a document called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wildlife Program Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement</i>at a cost of $600,000. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lincoln County commissioner at the time, Rita Windom, said that only seven meetings took place in Montana to inform citizens about the “big changes planned for the way it (FWP) manages wildlife, hunting, and rural living patterns” and she happened to have attended one of these meetings in 1992. Incidentally, 1992 is the year when U.N. Agenda 21 was signed in Rio by 179 countries, including the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even though limited public input was permitted during poorly advertised meetings, some of which had only nine people in attendance, the ultimate decision-maker was the FWP. Windom added that the FWP document <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“includes plans to manipulate human populations in rural areas.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“They are saying they want social changes. They talk about the increasing importance of environmental concerns nationally, and the increasing reliance on referendums and grass-roots politics for political change. They [FWP] say that social and economic values towards natural resources are becoming less consumptive… nationally. The emergence of the animal rights movement exemplifies national pressure to shift to a less consumptive use at state and local levels,”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> Windom said, referring to the FWP environmental impact statement plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As quoted in the front page article, Windom added that [FWP] “is going to change the use of the land and take the personal property off the land on conservation easements, which would mean ranchers and farmers could no longer use the land the way it is currently being used. That is a big departure to the way we have known conservation easements in the past.” Windom explained that “the plan would in essence tax rural property owners for the wildlife on their property.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">David F. Latham wrote that Commissioner Windom recalled how “one employee of FWP told her the plan is designed to push rural residents into urban areas.” As many residents asked hard questions, the FWP state land manager, Darlene Edge, told Lincoln County commissioner Rita Windom, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Can’t you see we are doing you a favor by forcing people to move from the rural areas into the urban areas. That way you can close roads… Why don’t you work with us and move these people out of the rural areas and into the urban areas so cities can shoulder more of the responsibilities and the county can save money?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A quick check of the Wildlands Project Map reveals the “simulated reserve and corridor system to protect biodiversity as mandated by the Convention on Biological Diversity, The Wildland Project, U.N. and U.S. Man and Biosphere Program, and Various U.N., U.S. Heritage Programs, and Nafta.” The vast majority of U.S. land is pictured in red, with “little to no human use,” and in yellow, “buffer zones with highly regulated use.” </span><a href="http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/images/wildlands_map.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/images/wildlands_map.jpg</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Convention on Biological Diversity passed the Senate Foreign Relation Committee by a vote of 16-3 on June 29, 1994. However, one hour before a scheduled vote by the Senate, “the treaty was pulled from the calendar and a vote on the treaty was never taken.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>But the Clinton administration implemented the treaty anyway through a policy called “Ecosystem Management.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(A Short Course in Global Governance, Henry Lamb, Sovereignty International, Inc., p. 12, 2010) <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">David Latham wrote in the Montanian that FWP sent letters to the Amish community in the West Kootenai and had an ‘informational meeting’ to “show them that conservation easements weren’t all that bad,” said Windom. Windom expressed her frustration with the secrecy of FWP, “in my opinion they purposely didn’t disseminate these documents.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As more and more farmers are voluntarily trapped in conservation easements for years or in perpetuity, they are finding out that the terms of the contract can be draconian, with little recourse or defense from state and local governments. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Few states like Virginia were successful in passing laws to protect farmers from the intrusion of government with U.N. Sustainable Development plans, but these laws do not go far enough. U.N. Agenda 21 goals through its Sustainable Development lynchpin have encroached private property rights like kudzu.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Note<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am grateful to David F. Latham, editor of the Montanian, who had to search his pre-digital archives to accommodate my request on such a short notice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am also grateful to Sheila Stanifer, Perry Township Trustee from Ohio , for her valuable research contribution (links).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>COPYRIGHT: Ileana Johnson 2015<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri-Bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/conservation-easements-in-ohio-and-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-1330506123351607047Fri, 17 Jul 2015 03:47:00 +00002015-07-16T20:47:14.311-07:00climate change industryeradicationglobal bankruptcyPope Francispovertyprivate propertyschemessocial justicesocial mortgagewealth redistributionGlobal Bankruptcy, Sustainable Development, and Propaganda <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ever so caring for the fate of humanity, Pope Francis’ duties have now extended from world climatologist, population control, and critic of free market economics, to expert on global bankruptcy. He said, “The goods of the Earth are meant for everyone, and however much someone may parade his property, it has a social mortgage.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Catholic principle of “social mortgage” is the idea that the public has a “legitimate and necessary claim on private wealth and property.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are so lucky that we have such a capable Pope who not only tends to the souls of his flock but also to the pockets of the rich and of the downtrodden who are in serious need of wealth redistribution and social justice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If we don’t allow countries to go bankrupt, we are definitely a heartless bunch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Just giving them foreign aid and technical expertise to build their own prosperous economy is no longer enough. In the meantime, Christians are being killed and persecuted around the globe by their Muslim brethren but I digress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The AP reported that Pope Francis said the following when asked to comment about the Greek debt debacle, “If a company can declare bankruptcy, why can’t a country do so and we go to the aid of others?” Because so many countries struggle with debt, he called for an international bankruptcy process as a solution. I am not sure if he mentioned all the theft and misallocation of donated funds or how loans have been used or misused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Catholic Church’s consultant to the Vatican, Eric LeCompte, head of the religious development organization called Jubilee USA Network, said that “Pope Francis knows that heavy debt loads cause poverty and inequality. The Pope’s statement is a logical extension of the Catholic Church’s strong support of debt relief for struggling countries.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Pope is not alone in poverty and debt eradication calls. United Nations voted 124-11 in September 2014 to develop a global bankruptcy process. The Pope is just promoting their plans. IMF studies revealed that debt is a cause of inequality. It will develop a proposal this fall as “nearly 50 countries face worrying levels of debt according to World Bank statistics.”<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“A bankruptcy process is critical if we want less poverty and if we want to prevent financial crisis,” </span></i></strong><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">said LeCompte<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>consultant to a recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development road map utilized in the U.N. bankruptcy process<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. “Bankruptcy means less inequality and more global stability."<o:p></o:p></i></span></strong></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since our American students’ college loans cannot be bankrupted even though most of them cannot find jobs in their fields in this out-of-control national-debt-strapped economy to enable them to pay back their loans, should we not start a bankruptcy loan forgiveness at home before taxpayers are somehow saddled with the debt of the third world? If suddenly international banks that made loans to various countries, are in need themselves of bailouts because they are deemed “too big to fail,” will taxpayers be required to rescue them? <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the same time, the U.N. is preparing the future of education through a renewed propaganda indoctrination assault of our children into Green Global Citizens. U.N. Secretary Bank Ki Moon and UNESCO’s chief Irina Bokova declared that globalized schools around the world need to re-shape our children’s values in order to create “sustainable global citizens.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Attending the U.N. World Education Forum in South Korea, 100 education ministers, U.N. plutocrats, globalists, Marxist educators, environmentalists, lobbyists, and “stakeholders” outlined the public relations media blitz of the “roadmap for global education” through 2030 via the Incheon Declaration.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://en.unesco.org/world-education-forum-2015/incheon-declaration"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">http://en.unesco.org/world-education-forum-2015/incheon-declaration</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The U.N. Foundation, media “partners” and other NGOs unveiled their propaganda campaign for the next fifteen years to promote the “sustainable development” master plan for humanity and the globe, the lynchpin of the 1992 U.N. Agenda 21. Dubbed the “world’s largest advertising campaign,” the U.N. effort will “train” and “subsidize” so-called journalists to favorably report on the one world government global control, under the guise of “sustainable development,” of every facet of our economy and of our lives.<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While visiting the United States in September, in addition to supporting the climate change industry, the Pope will likely attack the “American Idea,” the God-given individual rights outlined in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. We know so because the senior Vatican and U.N. adviser, Jeffrey Sachs, wrote in a Catholic publication that “the path to happiness lies not solely or mainly through the defense of rights but through the exercise of virtues, most notably justice and charity.” </span><a href="http://www.aim.org/aim-column/liberal-academic-says-americas-founding-document-outmoded/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.aim.org/aim-column/liberal-academic-says-americas-founding-document-outmoded/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The indoctrination into the global citizenship will be facilitated by our Department of Education agenda of “cradle to government-approved career.” Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan unveiled the plan for government boarding schools for “just certain kids we should have 24/7,” building “community centers” with more offerings of “after school programming” and the opportunity to shape the brain full of mush of potential social justice drones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And topping the list of communist indoctrination, millions of dollars of tax money will be used to brain wash kids into non-existent “white privilege,” a race-based ruse to excuse any lack of personal responsibility, motivation, and work ethic among the lazy, incapable, and the sloth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The San Francisco-based Pacific Education Group, “claims black students shouldn’t be subject to ‘white values’ such as industriousness, punctuality, and civilized classroom behavior and that they should be held to different standards than whites.” Never mind that teachers report chaos in the classrooms where these new “visionary” and outrageous standards of behavior have been adopted. Such race-based standards are racist by definition. But then again, achievement based on merit is overrated. Why not have 144 valedictorians among 400 high school graduates?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While in South America, Pope Francis made the call for “a new economic and ecological world order where the goods of the Earth are shared by everyone, not just exploited by the rich.” The question remains, who will divide these goods of the earth and how will it be done if not by supply and demand? And who will be the producers with so many takers waiting in the wings?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Further reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.liberato.us/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.liberato.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://jubileeusa.nationbuilder.com/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Functad.org%2Fen%2FPublicationsLibrary%2Fgdsddf2015misc1_en.pdf&amp;e=2976120b67b942693146b88002fceec6&amp;utm_source=jubileeusa&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pr_francisbank&amp;n=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">Sovereign Debt Workouts: Going Forward Roadmap and Guide </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">(The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)</span><br /><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></a><a href="http://jubileeusa.nationbuilder.com/r?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imf.org%2Fexternal%2Fnp%2Fpp%2Feng%2F2013%2F042613.pdf&amp;e=2976120b67b942693146b88002fceec6&amp;utm_source=jubileeusa&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pr_francisbank&amp;n=2" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">IMF's April 2013 paper on debt restructuring</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><a href="http://jubileeusa.nationbuilder.com/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdaccess-dds-ny.un.org%2Fdoc%2FUNDOC%2FGEN%2FN14%2F521%2F79%2FPDF%2FN1452179.pdf%3FOpenElement&amp;e=2976120b67b942693146b88002fceec6&amp;utm_source=jubileeusa&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pr_francisbank&amp;n=3" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">United Nations General Assembly Resolution on a legal bankruptcy framework</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/global-bankruptcy-sustainable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-938920827575714903Sat, 11 Jul 2015 22:32:00 +00002015-07-11T15:32:28.006-07:00conversationdemonizingdocumentaryDonutgateillegalsJose Antonio VargasPCSave My Tomorrowwhite guiltWhite PeoplewhitenessPolitical Correctness Gone Crazy <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve wondered for the longest time why Americans remain silent to the massive “fundamental transformation” of our country by a minority of well-organized progressives who use any means necessary to attain their communistic ends, including the phony notion of “white privilege” in the most tolerant nation on the planet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While history is being altered, rewritten in the revisionist view of Saul Alinksy’s activists on the payroll of the current regime, various communist non-profits, and by low information voters who think that a Hershey’s candy bar is more valuable than a $150 pure silver bar and by the non-stop race-baiters, the U.S. A. has become the laughing stock of the rest of the world. Instead of respect, we get derision and mockery on Al Jazeera by our own millennials who work for various anti-American think-tanks and lobbying firms. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYhTFz_SGw0"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYhTFz_SGw0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The military is being cut down more and more, “we can’t afford to pay them,” we are following into the footsteps of European countries that are powerless to defend themselves in the case of an attack. Who is going to take America’s place with its brave soldiers who came to the rescue and liberated Europe from the Nazi oppressors? Where is the American backbone I have heard so much about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fact that Memphis officials have voted to disinter the grave of a Confederate general and his wife, in an illogical attempt to purge every shred of our past and of our history, is mind-boggling. When are the hungry racists going to stop? Their ancestors are long gone. America is in a different place now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What will it take to stop this disruptive PC juvenile insanity? Our country is teetering over the abyss of an out of control government spending and unpayable national debt and we are mesmerized by narcissistic media types and the Donut-Licking-Gate?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got my answer recently. Donald Trump had the temerity to speak the truth by giving accurate statistics and facts about a certain segment of illegal aliens who represent a majority of criminals in our prison system, who invade our borders to commit crimes, to export their illegal drugs and criminal gangs, and to rape and murder innocents who happen to be in the way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The media and big business have savaged Donald Trump as a presidential candidate and “the art of the deal” businessman. Luckily, he is a very rich man, he can stand financial losses. He is highly successful no matter what he does; he is the quintessential self-made billionaire. Nobody who is trashing him in the major main stream media venues can ever take that away from him or dare to measure up to this man’s wisdom, business acumen, and success. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why are Americans silent? Because they are afraid! They don’t want to lose their jobs, their freedom, and the acceptance of their neighbors, family, and friends on the social circuit. They don’t want to be savaged by mobs surrounding their homes. They don’t want to be called racists and bigots, so they remain silent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They don’t want to be evicted if their handicapped child hangs the Confederate flag in his bedroom window. They don’t want to be impeached from public office if they happen to disagree with the gay lifestyle based on their religious beliefs. They don’t want to be thrown out of their churches by parishioners who also cower in fear of disapproval or loss of their jobs. They don’t want to lose their bakeries, event planner businesses, or pizza shop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Freedom of speech is free if you agree with me. If you disagree with liberals, freedom of speech no longer exists. Progressives have muzzled all of us with Political Correctness gone amuck. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>If we disagree with their ideology, atheism, lifestyle, or opinion, how long will it be before we actually start going to jail if we dare to embrace any dissenting opinions that the left has labeled “hate speech” and codified it into law?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our children cannot smoke in school, eat unhealthy foods for school lunches, cannot take aspirin for headaches, are drugged for real or imagined attention-deficit disorders, but can have state-subsidized sex-change operations at 15 in Oregon without parental consent. </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/09/oregon-allowing-15-year-olds-to-get-state-subsidized-sex-change-operations/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/09/oregon-allowing-15-year-olds-to-get-state-subsidized-sex-change-operations/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Children are brainwashed and indoctrinated into the religion of Gaia, scared every day in school about man-made global warming that is scientifically a hoax. HBO devoted an entire six-episode series<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, Saving My Tomorrow</i>, to this topic, using small children with memorized canned lines from the climate change industry agenda, resplendent with sophisticated adult vocabulary uncharacteristic for such small children, to shamelessly propagandize global warming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jose Antonio Vargas, “the self-described ‘undocumented gay Filipino American’ journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for covering the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007,” has made a conversation film about “whiteness,” propagandizing non-existent “white guilt” and “white privilege.” </span><a href="http://www.ijreview.com/2015/07/364664-new-documentary-raising-serious-eyebrows-ethnicity-subject-legal-status-creator/?utm_source=email&amp;utm_campaign=afternoon-newsletter&amp;utm_medium=owned"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ijreview.com/2015/07/364664-new-documentary-raising-serious-eyebrows-ethnicity-subject-legal-status-creator/?utm_source=email&amp;utm_campaign=afternoon-newsletter&amp;utm_medium=owned</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“We cannot have an honest conversation about race in America until we explore and unpack what "whiteness" and "white privilege" mean in America. This is not an easy, simply or comfortable conversation. So let's get uncomfortable. Let's talk. That's the goal of "White People," a documentary project produced by MTV's Look Different campaign in collaboration with Define American and Punched In The Head Productions.” <o:p></o:p></span></i><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems to be the norm now that “undocumented” immigrants criticize Americans for their generosity. We allow illegal aliens who invade our borders to take advantage of our welfare system, free education, free medical care, and freedoms unlike any offered in their former countries, freedoms which they are now trying to curtail with aggressive liberal activism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is nothing shameful about American generosity and tolerance. We should not be demonized because we are white. Nobody should be demonized about the color of their skin any more than being bullied for being tall, short, skinny, or fat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">History has shown that demonizing an entire group of people under the guise of “conversation” has gotten millions of innocents killed. Take for example the good people who stood by while their Jewish neighbors were persecuted during Nazism. How about millions of people under the communist revolution who did nothing when intellectuals and the middle class were purged and disappeared during the 20<sup>th</sup>century?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the IJ Review readers, George Kirkman, who took up the challenge to have an honest race conversation in America, had this commentary for the phony indictment of “whiteness” based on a racist view of the world, preconceived notions, and biases. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It was whiteness that fought to end slavery, not only here in America, but around the world as well. It was whiteness that fought Ebola in Africa. It was whiteness that sends out doctors, teachers, engineers, and missionaries to the Third World. It is whiteness that brings in Third World students to be educated. It is whiteness that takes in a hundred thousand or more refugees every year. It was whiteness that went forth to rebuild Haiti after the quake. It is whiteness that sends out billions in aid to the Third World.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[endif]--></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is bold and unwise to accuse the very people who are tolerantly accepting you into their midst even though you broke their laws by entering illegally. Feed me but I am going to bite your hand because I resent your ability and industriousness that allows you to share the fruits of your labor with me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Promoting the liberal inclusiveness agenda by making any child or adult feel ashamed of their skin color and of their heritage is repulsive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/political-correctness-gone-crazy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-4281017341797095494Tue, 07 Jul 2015 02:56:00 +00002015-07-07T06:40:07.120-07:00Civil WarConstitutionDumfriesGeorge MasonGunston HallIndependence DayPohick ChurchslaveryThe Virginia Bill of Rightstobacco plantationsU.S. Bill of RightsGunston Hall, the Significance of George Mason, and Independence Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiFiuCvHkNo/VZtCquWSLyI/AAAAAAAAB5s/zP-hSpKQOFw/s1600/Gunston%2BHall%2Bwith%2Btree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiFiuCvHkNo/VZtCquWSLyI/AAAAAAAAB5s/zP-hSpKQOFw/s320/Gunston%2BHall%2Bwith%2Btree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunston Hall front entrance (Photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I had many occasional and strenuous coadjutors in debate, and one most steadfast, able, and zealous. . . . This was George Mason, a man of first order of wisdom among those who acted on the theatre of the revolution, of expansive mind, profound judgment, cogent in argument, learned in the lore of our former constitution, and earnest for the republican change on democratic principles.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>- Thomas Jefferson, 1821<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a naturalized American by choice, Independence Day for me is not “Happy July 4,” as young and old alike greet each other with all day, or an opportunity to grill, BBQ, be with your family and friends, hang out the flag with pride, or ignore it because it’s a misperceived symbol of racism, or burn it just because you can, or attend fireworks shows for the sake of traditional entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Independence Day has a deep significance that only people like me who fled evil communism or other dictatorships can understand and few can explain cogently. For me, it is the story of the valiant fight for freedom and independence from an oppressive and out-of-control government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On this hot and humid 239<sup>th</sup> Independence Day anniversary, I decided to take a trip down history lane, about four miles east off the beaten path to Gunston Hall. The road wound through lovely pastures, a hidden golf course, a state park, a couple of churches, and thick-forested areas that seemed a world away from the busy highways and interstates of northern Virginia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the site of the first Pohick Church (1730-1774), one of the earliest religious sites in Fairfax County, there is a lovely Methodist Church nestled among green trees and pastures, the Lewis Chapel/Cranford Memorial, built in 1857, surrounded by graves dating back to 1780. A simple engraved granite block memorializes “all soldiers who served in the Civil War, 1861-1865, and were buried here.” A few American flags are visible, vases with artificial flowers, but not one Confederate flag is displayed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Daniel French, the original contractor that was hired to build the new Pohick Church died during its construction in 1771, George Mason, an executor and vestryman, finished the job.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Documents reveal that in the period prior to the Revolutionary War, Anglican churches, which were supported by taxes, fulfilled the function of welfare agencies, taking care of the poor, the widowed, and of the orphans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A historical sign described how on June 16, 1700, unknown Indians, possibly “Wittowees or Piscataways,” attacked with “arrowes and wooden Tommahawkes” and killed eight people in Thomas Barton’s house. Historians speculated that the attack occurred because the Indians were upset by colonial encroachment on their lands and were “encouraged” by the French.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunston Hall, located about four miles to the east, was George Mason’s home, the Revolutionary leader and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the first Constitution of Virginia. The fourth George Mason built his mansion in 1755-1758, but the land had been “acquired” in 1696 by the second George Mason. He bought the land which was patented in 1651 by Richard Turney. Turney was hanged for taking part in the Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPfxQKzVSfA/VZtDETQlUaI/AAAAAAAAB50/eTgJ2FEc-h8/s1600/Gunston%2BHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPfxQKzVSfA/VZtDETQlUaI/AAAAAAAAB50/eTgJ2FEc-h8/s320/Gunston%2BHall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gunston Hall front entrance (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The winding entrance to Gunston Hall is flanked by thick woods until it suddenly opens wide into grassy fields. The majestic road is lined by old magnolias. The original cherry trees from George Mason’s time had been replaced long ago with stately magnolias. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To the left of Gunston Hall, about three-fourths of a mile, the Potomac River adds a marine blue hue to the lush green landscape. A road leads to the port where boats docked and delivered visitors and cargo to the mansion. A beautiful garden path in the back of the house is lined with the original bushes, leading to a bluff overlooking a forested valley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vD0c0GQ0bI/VZtDY3alJOI/AAAAAAAAB58/OyhFuOB_k7s/s1600/Well%2B18th%2Bcentury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vD0c0GQ0bI/VZtDY3alJOI/AAAAAAAAB58/OyhFuOB_k7s/s320/Well%2B18th%2Bcentury.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18th c. well used by the Mason family<br />(Photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The original 18<sup>th</sup> century well used by George Mason’s family is still on the left hand side of the property. In a shed behind, inhabited by a black snake which startled me when I reached too deeply inside to take a photograph, there is an 18<sup>th</sup> century millstone found near the site of Holt’s Mill (operational from 1700-1740 on Mason lands) one mile southwest of Gunston Hall on Mill Creek. Thirty other buildings and barns surrounded the mansion at the time. It was a lively village bustling with activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it was the case with most wealthy land owners in the 18<sup>th</sup> century Virginia, George Mason planned and supervised the construction of his own home, designing its exterior and layout with the help of an English-trained carpenter and joiner, William Buckland, whom he hired in 1755.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A wealthy Virginian’s mansion was literally his castle for dinners, teas, balls, barbecues, fish frys, games, hunts, and musical entertainment. Ever so hospitable, neighbors, relatives, and friends and “visitors of distinction” were frequent guests and always welcome. Entertaining all the time was a way of life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Mason, the eldest child, recalled that the main meal was served at 2 p.m. and nobody sat down until his father arrived. Grace was always part of the meal, “God bless us, and what we are going to receive.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A devoted husband and father, George Mason was married to Ann Eilbeck for twenty-three years. When she died at thirty-nine, he described his beloved wife as “a prudent &amp; a tender mother.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a Justice of Peace, George Mason signed marriage licenses. He mused in a letter, “This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licenses every Day since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extremely disagreeable.” He remained a widower for seven years before marrying a second time to Sarah Brent of Woodstock in Stafford County. There are many Brents today in Dumfries, the oldest town in Virginia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">George Mason was only a delegate to the Virginia Assembly, a Justice of Peace for Fairfax County, a vestryman at Pohick Church, and a trustee for the towns of Alexandria and Dumfries, but he had a profound influence on our nation’s government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">George Mason had 12 children by Ann Eilbeck. The nine (five boys and four girls) who survived were educated by a private tutor in a one-room school built for them on the property. Tutors included a Mr. McPherson of Maryland and a Mr. Davidson and a Mr. Constable of Scotland. In 1832, Gen. John Mason described how the last two tutors had been specially selected by George Mason himself to come to America in order to teach his large brood while they lived in his house. The entire second floor of the mansion was dedicated to bedrooms for the children with beautiful views of the lands, including a spectacular view of the Potomac River and of the gardens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first floor had a large entrance atrium with a beautiful grand wooden staircase, the deep-green master bedroom to the left and a dining room in green, white, and gold, with George Mason’s portrait and the portrait of his first wife Ann as a sixteen year-old, a Chinese-motif room, painted in yellow and decorated with pagoda-like freezes and wooden moldings as envisioned at the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Closets, hallways, another staircase, helix-shaped and tiny, a game room, and reading room completed the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2J0TwRoyM3Q/VZtD1MvuIoI/AAAAAAAAB6E/DjgItril-qM/s1600/Potomac%2Briver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2J0TwRoyM3Q/VZtD1MvuIoI/AAAAAAAAB6E/DjgItril-qM/s320/Potomac%2Briver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the back porch of the Potomac River</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015)</div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slaves lived away from the main house, as Mason wrote, “Out of sight, was a little village called Log-Town – so called because most of the houses were built of hewn pine logs. . . . lived here several Families of the slaves, serving about the Mansion house – among them were my Father’s body Servant James, a Mulattoe Man &amp; his Family, and those of several Negroe carpenters.” Some outbuildings near the main house were places where slaves worked, ate, and sometimes slept.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQ-JZ4ldks/VZtERuIouFI/AAAAAAAAB6M/IoK6uTi2fhs/s1600/Gunston%2Bhall%2Bslave%2Bquarters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQ-JZ4ldks/VZtERuIouFI/AAAAAAAAB6M/IoK6uTi2fhs/s320/Gunston%2Bhall%2Bslave%2Bquarters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slaves quarters where work was done</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015)</div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slaves grew tobacco and wheat for export, some were blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers, shoemakers, spinners, weavers, others were domestics in the Mason household, cooking, raising children or were personal butlers. In 1783, according to archives, “more than half of Virginia’s population was black.” It is fair to say that “slavery was the dominant form of labor in Virginia” of the 18<sup>th</sup>century.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the archives, even though George Mason described slavery as a “slow poison,” he did not free his 90 slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When he died in 1792, he willed his slaves to his nine children. Some Chesapeake slave owners did emancipate their slaves. Few runaways made it to freedom; George Mason issued a reward of ten pounds for the return of his slaves, offering detailed descriptions of the men and the possessions they carried with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IH8FX-siQ-w/VZtFzttUUTI/AAAAAAAAB60/2p33cWnvuAM/s1600/Grist%2Bmill%2Bstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IH8FX-siQ-w/VZtFzttUUTI/AAAAAAAAB60/2p33cWnvuAM/s320/Grist%2Bmill%2Bstone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grist mill stone (18th century)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015)</div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last private owners of Gunston Hall, Louis and Eleanor Hertle, donated the mansion in 1949 to the Commonwealth of Virginia, administered by a Board of Regents from the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in Mrs. Hertle’s memory. Louis Hertle, retired from her job at Marshall Field’s in Chicago, hired architect Glenn Brown to restore the mansion beginning in 1912.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the museum archives, aside from the few volumes with George Mason’s signature, acquired from his uncle and guardian, John Mercer, a lawyer with a vast collection of 1,700 books, little is known about Mason’s library. He was quite wealthy and we know that he gave each of his children a substantial gift of money and property.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A 1775 ledger with Jenifer and Hooe, a merchant firm of Alexandria, revealed that George Mason was growing a lot of wheat on his property after 1770. Prior, tobacco was the primary crop. In a September 1788 letter, George Mason wrote: “A violent Storm of Wind and Rain . . . with almost Continual Rain for many Days afterwards, has done great damage to the Tobacco . . . our wheat has also suffered some Damage, &amp; our Hay a great deal . . .” Tobacco was grown in 1775 on his Hallowing, Occoquan, and Dogue plantations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Virginia planters, including Mason, grew tobacco, wheat, and corn for sale, barley, cotton, corn, and flax for private use. An orchard provided fruits and nuts and a 1780 letter to Thomas Jefferson shows that “Mason took great interest in his fruit stock.” Every plantation had an extensive garden to feed everyone. Tallow, leather, and wool came from animals they raised. Fishing and hunting provided both food and recreation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">George Mason, the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, influenced many other authors and documents:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">James Madison when drafting the U.S. Bill of Rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Benjamin Franklin when drafting the Pennsylvania constitution<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Adams when drafting the Massachusetts constitution<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An adaptation of Mason’s first Article<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, “That all Men are by Nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent Rights, of which, when they enter into a State of Society, they cannot, by any Compact, deprive or divest their Posterity; namely, the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety,”</i> appears in Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Montana constitutions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The French Declaration of the Rights of Man<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and Edmund Randolph were the Constitution non-signers among the fifty-five delegates, each calling for a national bill of rights. Mason wrote prophetically at the conclusion of the 1787 federal convention in Philadelphia (mid-May through mid-September): <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is no Declaration of Rights, and the law of the general Government being paramount to the Laws &amp; Constitutions of the several States, the Declaration of Rights in separate States are no Security. Nor are the people secured even in the Enjoyment of the Benefits of the common Laws.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As one of the primary architects of the Constitution, having delivered more than 125 speeches during the convention, but “fearing that the proposed government would diminish the power vested in the citizenry,” George Mason refused to sign. His prophetic decision was made in the Philadelphia State House, known as Independence Hall, where the Federal Convention met.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to George Mason’s 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights, the English Bill of Rights of 1689, and the Magna Carta (1215), we now have The U.S. Bill of Rights which includes freedoms not enumerated in the Constitution such as freedom of religion, of speech, freedom of the press, of assembly, the right to keep and bear arms, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, security in personal effects, freedom from warrants issued without probable cause, and reserves all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the people or the States. The question remains, are we going to be able to keep them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/gunston-hall-significance-of-george.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-2345272491240653390Mon, 06 Jul 2015 06:08:00 +00002015-07-05T23:08:50.018-07:00Home Owner AssociationsIleana JohnsonShu Bartholomew"On The Commons Radio" with Shu Bartholomew Shu and I are talking about Home Owners Associations.<br /><a href="http://onthecommons.us/images/stories/shows2/20150704johnson.mp3">http://onthecommons.us/images/stories/shows2/20150704johnson.mp3</a>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/on-commons-radio-with-shu-bartholomew.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-6457481406605649579Sat, 04 Jul 2015 14:49:00 +00002015-07-04T09:40:20.162-07:00climate change encyclicalenvironmental justiceequalityglobal warmingLaudato Si'Mother EarthPope FrancispovertyrenewablesSt. Francis of AssisiPope Francis' Encyclical on Climate Change<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gar5bmGz_7o/VZfx9yRh8pI/AAAAAAAAB44/7FPuFdC9PZw/s1600/Olive%2Bgrove%2Bin%2BAssisi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gar5bmGz_7o/VZfx9yRh8pI/AAAAAAAAB44/7FPuFdC9PZw/s320/Olive%2Bgrove%2Bin%2BAssisi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive grove in Assisi (Photo: Ileana 2008)</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Extremely curious at the media allegation that the “scientific Pantheist who advises Pope Francis” and has swayed “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laudato Si'”</i> (named so after St. Francis of Assisi’s canticle), “seems to believe in Gaia, but not in God,” I set out to read for myself the climate change encyclical in Italian. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span><a href="https://stream.org/scientific-pantheist-who-advises-pope-francis/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://stream.org/scientific-pantheist-who-advises-pope-francis/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Pope Francis, began his 192-page <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Lettera Enciclica, Laudato Si’ del Santo Padre Francesco Sulla Cura Della Casa Comune,”</i> by quoting a St. Francis d’Assisi canticle, and by saying that we are abusing and irresponsibly using “our sister Mother Earth, which sustains and governs us and produces diverse fruits with colourful flowers and herbs.”</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><a href="http://www.speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/pdf/laudato_si.pdf/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/pdf/laudato_si.pdf/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On page 5 he continues with, “Ogni aspirazione a curare e migliorare il mondo richiede di cambiare profondamente gli ‘stili di vita, i modelli di produzione e di consume, le strutture consolidate di potere che oggi reggono le societa.” As I translate, “Any aspiration to care for and improve the world requires changing profoundly life-styles, the patterns of production and consumption, the established structures of power that today govern society.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have heard these words before written in the 40-chapter U.N. Agenda 21 document signed by 179 countries in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro and repeated by subsequent Rio conference participants and advocates who really want to destroy capitalism. Here’s a quote by Christina Figueres, Executive Secretary of U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, in which she admits that environmental activists and lobbyists aim to destroy capitalism, not save the globe from ecological Armageddon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the Industrial Revolution"<br /></span><a href="http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021015-738779-climate-change-scare-tool-to-destroy-capitalism.htm#ixzz3eqV8jjk8"><span style="color: #003399;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021015-738779-climate-change-scare-tool-to-destroy-capitalism.htm#ixzz3eqV8jjk8</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[endif]--></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To accelerate our compliance with United Nations demands on greenhouse gas emissions, Congress was informed in a CRS report on June 29, 2015 about the dangers of increased atmospheric CO2, even though, lost in the report is the following statement, “The atmospheric CO2 concentration was however higher in Earth’s more distant past (many millions of years ago) at which time paleolithic and geological data indicate that temperatures and sea levels were also higher than they are today.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The objective of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is to “stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the Earth’s climate system.” To the U.N., according to this CRS report, “stabilizing carbon dioxide concentrations implies zero net emissions.” (Jane A. Leggett, Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Congressional Research Service , R44092, June 29, 2015) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As Leggett explains in the footnotes on page 2 of the CRS report, the UNFCCC’s covers only greenhouse gases influenced by human activity but implicitly includes gases that occur naturally and human-related such as CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, manufactured gases such as hydroflourocarbons (HFC), perfluorcarbons (PFC), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Cloroflourcarbons (CFC) are apparently covered under the 1985 Vienna Convention to Protect the Stratospheric Ozone Layer and the Montreal protocol.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44092.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44092.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quoting Patriarch Bartholomew on page 8, Pope Francis said that “by being human we are destroying the biological diversity of God’s creation, we are compromising the integrity of the planet, we contribute to climate change, deforest the earth, destroying its humid areas.” We are committing sins because “a crime against nature is a crime against ourselves and is a sin against God.” The 15-page preamble asks on page 13 for a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">new universal solidarity</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following chapters deal with water, human life quality, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">social degradation</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inequality</b>on the planet, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">greening of society</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">environmental justice</b> for the poor, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reproductive health</b>, country inequality, poor countries of the southern hemisphere, universal communion, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">common destination</b> of goods, the human root of ecological crisis (read man-made), crises and consequences of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">modern Anthropocene</b>, the need to defend work, social, environmental, cultural, and economic ecology,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>ecology of daily life, the principle of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">common good</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">justice </b>through generations, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sustainable agriculture</b>, protection of natural resources and water, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">replacement of fossil fuels with renewables</b>, Rio +20, the Rio Declaration of 1992, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reparations for poor countries</b> for the environmental damage caused by developed countries, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These paragraphs are obviously an abbreviated and religiously-tinged regurgitation of Agenda 21 goals as spelled in the 40 chapters of the U.N. Agenda 21 document signed in 1992 by 179 countries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A dialogue between religion and science is proposed on page 152 because the majority on the planet view themselves as faithful. It is thus imperative for religion to enter the dialogue of curing nature, of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">abolishing poverty</b>, and of building a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">network of respect and fraternity</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is vital for education and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spiritual ecology</b> to merge together, he said, but to do so we must create change in our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">excessive consumerism</b>, our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">collective egoism</b>, and in our sense of precariousness and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">insecurity.</b> We must strive for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">common good</b>, he added. The Christian community and churches have an important role to play in this educational change to form and educate the masses for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">responsible austerity</b>, to cure poverty, and to care for the environment in this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ecological conversion.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>(p. 163) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all due respect to his Holiness and the church, this document reads just like any other communist-based environment manifesto and is full of transparent communist jargon (especially the bold-faced words) promoted and supported by various United Nations-affiliated environmental NGOs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We already have an environmental Constitution for the world, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Draft International Covenant on Environment and Development (DICED). </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I spoke at length about some of the 79 articles of DICED in my book, “U.N. Agenda 21: Environmental Piracy.” </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/U-N-Agenda-21-Environmental-Piracy-ebook/dp/B009WC6JXO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin/183-4301922-3525013?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1436019246&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=UN+Agenda+21%3A+Environmental+Piracy"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/U-N-Agenda-21-Environmental-Piracy-ebook/dp/B009WC6JXO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin/183-4301922-3525013?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1436019246&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=UN+Agenda+21%3A+Environmental+Piracy</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But having his Holiness support the goals of the climate change industry, gives their entire agenda a new and powerful façade.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The papal encyclical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Laudato Si”</i> published on May 24, 2015 ends with a beautiful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prayer for our earth </i>on page 184 and with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christian prayer with the Creator</i> on pages 185-187. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Pope Francis asked on page 123, “What type of world do we wish to leave for our children who are now growing up,” it is clear to me what type, it is global communism ordered around the redistribution of wealth and around a one-world government under the guise of planet stewardship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sources quoted:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><a href="http://www.chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1351072?eng=y"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1351072?eng=y</span></span></a><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/pdf/laudato_si.pdf/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/pdf/laudato_si.pdf/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021015-738779-climate-change-scare-tool-to-destroy-capitalism.htm#ixzz3eqV8jjk8"><span style="color: #003399;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021015-738779-climate-change-scare-tool-to-destroy-capitalism.htm#ixzz3eqV8jjk8</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[endif]--></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://stream.org/scientific-pantheist-who-advises-pope-francis/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://stream.org/scientific-pantheist-who-advises-pope-francis/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44092.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44092.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/U-N-Agenda-21-Environmental-Piracy-ebook/dp/B009WC6JXO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin/183-4301922-3525013?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1436019246&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=UN+Agenda+21%3A+Environmental+Piracy"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/U-N-Agenda-21-Environmental-Piracy-ebook/dp/B009WC6JXO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin/183-4301922-3525013?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1436019246&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=UN+Agenda+21%3A+Environmental+Piracy</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/pope-francis-encyclical-on-climate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-8100622248868801666Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:13:00 +00002015-07-01T11:13:27.745-07:00Dr. Klaus KaiserEmma Lazarusglobal warmingMichael GerrardPope Francisreparationssocial engineeringWaPoInteresting Reparations for Global Warming<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Give me your tired, your poor, <br />Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, <br />The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. <br />Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: <br />I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>- Emma Lazarus<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you thought global warming scaremongering tactics went away with the most recent failed prediction for 2015 when we were supposed to be flooded and underwater, with little polar ice caps left, you would be mistaken. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Writing for the Washington Post, Michael B. Gerrard, a legal scholar at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, proposes that we should take in millions upon millions of refugees that will eventually be displaced by climate change. He said, “We ruined your country. Welcome to ours.” Playing on Emma Lazarus’ famous quote, he adds, “Give us your thirsty, your hot, your flooded masses.” Apparently carbon footprint taxes and wealth redistribution are not enough, we must adopt progressive social engineering of the planet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If global warming average temperatures increase above 3.6 degrees, islands like Kiribati and the Marshalls and parts of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, and Vietnam will disappear underwater, flooded by melting glaciers in the Himalayas and the Andes. And if people don’t keep their voluntary and non-binding promises to cut CO2 (at the U.N. Climate summit in Paris in December 2015), “the thermometers could go much higher.” From Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, land will turn into desert. The heat will increase violence, ethnic and political tensions, Gerrard said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Gerrard’s proposed solution is a pledge “to take on a share of the displaced population equal to how much each nation has historically contributed to emissions of the greenhouse gases that are causing this crisis.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-38454957.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-38454957.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quoting the World Resources Institute, between 1850 and 2011, the U.S. caused 27 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, a trace gas that all plants need to grow. As a matter of fact, greenhouses provide extra CO2 in their solariums in order to accelerate plant growth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The European Union causes 25 percent of CO2 emissions, China 11 percent, Russia 8 percent, and Japan 4 percent. It is curious how only industrialized countries are identified as culprits even though nobody bothers to explain how ice melted 15,000 years ago or who or what caused the Mini Ice Age during the Middle Ages when there was little or no industrial pollution.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A very arresting photograph that illustrates this needed massive relocation of humans from poor countries to wealthy countries in the west shows Biblically dressed humans wading through chest-deep water and women carrying heavy loads of possessions on their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gerrard suggests that the U.S. should then take in 27 million people to absolve themselves from the 27 percent CO2 sin. Taking in just one million per year as we currently do is not enough; it won’t be a popular move but it would be “fair,” he added. We must take responsibility for the gases we expel into the atmosphere and pay for the damage. And if the new arrivals want to “re-create their own communities” within our country, it is only “fair.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He agrees that these people could adopt desalination practices and other technology-savvy agricultural methods but “they typically take a great deal of money and energy, the very resource we have failed to conserve in the first place.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gloom and doom prediction is that “If we don’t want millions of people seeking heaven here – or dying while they try – then the United States and other industrialized countries need to become far more aggressive in cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Europe is in a furor over who will take in” those who are fleeing civil war in Syria and oppression in Eritrea, said Michael Gerrard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>They risk their lives to reach the shores of European safety and the lure of entitlements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Might Europeans be leery of these refugees because of the attacks against innocents, like the recent one on a Tunisian beach, when Britons on vacation were mowed down with machine guns by a religionist of peace?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">A report released in May 2015 by NASA indicated that “updated data contradict one of the most frequently asserted global warming claims – that global warming is causing the polar ice caps to recede.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/20915-nasa-s-own-data-discredits-its-predictions-of-antarctic-doom"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/20915-nasa-s-own-data-discredits-its-predictions-of-antarctic-doom</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to New American, the report did not clarify whether climate warming may be natural or may be coming in cyclical patterns, or whether global warming is anthropogenic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been reported by many scientists who are now called “global warming deniers” that average temperatures fluctuate, the globe’s climate changes in natural, cyclical patterns, cooling and warming, causing glaciers and polar ice caps to grow and to shrink.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">NASA scientists began measuring ice caps by satellite in 1979 during the end of a 30-year cooling period. The “normal baseline” was thus established during this cooling period with very thick ice caps. As James Taylor of Forbes wrote,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The timing of the 1979 NASA satellite instrument launch could not have been better for global warming alarmists. The late 1970s marked the end of a 30-year cooling trend. As a result, the polar ice caps were quite likely more extensive than they had been since at least the 1920s. Nevertheless, this abnormally extensive 1979 polar ice extent would appear to be the “normal” baseline when comparing post-1979 polar ice extent.” </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2015/05/19/updated-nasa-data-polar-ice-not-receding-after-all/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2015/05/19/updated-nasa-data-polar-ice-not-receding-after-all/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the Pope inserted himself into the climate change industry, Dr. Klaus Kaiser wrote a letter to the “Academicians of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS)” to clarify their positions, particularly since they have a significant “influence on the development of poorer nations and their people” and in light of the fact that these people “are presently deprived of many of the energy-driven amenities of the developed countries.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Kaiser pointed out 12 scientifically incontrovertible facts:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without CO2 in the atmosphere life on earth, plants, animals, humans could not exist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For 4.5 billion years atmospheric CO2 on Earth was higher than today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Photosynthesis converts CO2 to organic matter thus reducing CO2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oxygen is produced in the earth’s atmosphere from CO2 via photosynthesis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oceans and fresh water are alkaline, not acidic; photosynthesis also increases the alkaline property of neutral or acidic water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without human influence, kilometres-thick ice shields covering the northern part of North America and Eurasia 20,000 years ago have melted completely about 5,000 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the most part, during the 15,000-year period mentioned, atmospheric CO2 stayed at 250 parts per million.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CO2 is not ‘pollution,’ when “the earth’s plants and ocean algae consume any CO2 stemming from fossil resource use with the same vigour as that emitted from volcanoes and fumaroles.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coal, a source of man-made CO2, provides a lot of the energy needs of the planet. India and China build a new coal-fired plant each week. Dr. Kaiser urges countries in Africa to expand their use of fossil fuels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The word “consensus” has zero meaning in science; look at astronomer Galileo who was exonerated by the Vatican 400 years after the Catholic Church condemned him as a heretic for his view on heliocentricity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">CO2 is a vital trace gas in the atmosphere, not a “pollutant.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><a href="http://canadafreepress.com/article/73340" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://canadafreepress.com/article/73340</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The naked truth is expressed quite clearly in this quote by Warren Moss:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“‘Such impending catastrophic events – flooding, droughts, heat waves, and higher seas – all allegedly caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels,’ have been used by the global-warming theorists working with federal agencies and the UN to impose draconian environmental regulations geared to bring the world’s industrial-based economy to its knees.” </span><a href="http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/20915-nasa-s-own-data-discredits-its-predictions-of-antarctic-doom"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/20915-nasa-s-own-data-discredits-its-predictions-of-antarctic-doom</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table></td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/07/interesting-reparations-for-global.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-3025100519117373816Mon, 29 Jun 2015 23:20:00 +00002015-06-29T16:30:39.225-07:00Alexis TsiprasATMs limitausteritybailinsbailoutsbankscrisisdebtDeutsche MarkdrachmaECBEUeuroGDPGreeceItalyPortugalreferendumSpainBailout, Bailins, and the Greeks' Trojan Horse<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phstl757_Qw/VZHUrSumFcI/AAAAAAAAB4M/c8f4k1ip_I0/s1600/Istanbul%2BArcheological%2BMuseum%2BTrojan%2BHorse%2BWikipedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phstl757_Qw/VZHUrSumFcI/AAAAAAAAB4M/c8f4k1ip_I0/s1600/Istanbul%2BArcheological%2BMuseum%2BTrojan%2BHorse%2BWikipedia.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Istanbul Archeological Museum Trojan Horse (Wikipedia)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Americans are eagerly signing petitions to ban the American flag on the heels of Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam leader call to ban the Stars and Stripes “due to its links to racism” or are busily banning anything attached in any way to the Confederate flag and our history, the United States and the world are in serious financial trouble driven by out-of-control debt, particularly the most visible nation of all, Greece.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Healthcare for illegals, gay marriage, and other non-stop crises occupy the American overwhelmed minds, while the Trojan Horse of huge national debt and loss of sovereignty to the globalist Transpacific Partnership (TPP) mystery “committee” are ignored. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Greece is bringing to the forefront the issue of debt, what happens when it spends 60 percent of GDP, lives from borrowed billions, and refuses to curtail spending on entitlements, expecting more bailouts from the EU, essentially Germany. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Banks and the stock exchange are closed for the week, issuing a 60 euros limit per withdrawal. Not unexpectedly the euro fell against the dollar and the British pound. Sky News reported Prime Minister Tsipras as blaming the European partners and the European Central Bank for the debacle because creditors “have refused a request to extend Greece’s international bailout beyond Tuesday, until after the referendum.” The move risks a Greek default on 1.5 billion euros payment to the International Monetary Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tsipras claims that the bank deposits of the Greek people are fully secure and the payments of wages and pensions are guaranteed. I am not so sure that is the case since Greece is carrying a government debt load of over 175 percent of its GDP. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Countries cannot service such level of debt without printing money.</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.tradingeconomics.com/greece/government-debt-to-gdp"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.tradingeconomics.com/greece/government-debt-to-gdp</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The European Central Bank will maintain its “emergency cash lifeline to Greece’s banks” without an increase. The Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) on which Greek banks depend, if lowered, may force the country out of the Eurozone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were many economists, of course, who questioned the wisdom of accepting Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain into the EU because their monetary policies were plagued by high inflation. Others believe that a return to the drachma may not be such a bad idea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Expecting the worse after banks announced closings, Greeks stood in long lines to withdraw cash from ATMs and many horded gasoline and food. After five years of various bailouts, demonstrations, protests, refusals to adopt more austerity measures, negotiations between the leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Brussels creditors have broken down. For months economists have predicted Greece’s pull out from the Eurozone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In preparation for the national referendum on July 5, police patrols are more visible especially around ATMs. Tsipras asked voters for a “yes” or “no” vote on the bailout proposal considered by his government as confiscatory. The plan would “raise taxes and hurt pensioners,” forcing Greeks to “an endless cycle of austerity.” But the Greeks have been told few details of the deal – nobody really knows the implications of a “yes” vote or a “no” vote and everyone fears they “would become Venezuela.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the well-off Greeks, fearing the election of the leftist Syriza, have already moved money out of Greece or took cash out and stored it elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Tsipras government favors a “no” response to the referendum because the bailouts terms are “humiliating” and would deepen Greece’s economic recession. But without bailouts, “most Greek banks would have totally collapsed by now.” </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/article-3141480/Hundreds-queue-outside-banks-fears-Grexit-grow-ahead-MPs-vote-bailout-referendum.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/article-3141480/Hundreds-queue-outside-banks-fears-Grexit-grow-ahead-MPs-vote-bailout-referendum.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been reported that withdrawals of 500-600 million euros have emptied more than 2,000 ATMs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When the austerity referendum was announced, people started withdrawing money. When the Greek banks reopen, would they need bail-ins like the Cypriot banks? Would the depositors be forced to accept worthless I.O.U.s for their cash?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The European Union has required its member countries to enact bail-in legislation. Bail-ins force creditors and shareholders to rescue troubled banks. Cyprus citizens holding private bank accounts had to take “haircuts,” a form of wealth confiscation. Private pension funds were raided in Poland. </span><a href="http://www.dcclothesline.com/2013/09/25/cyprus-style-wealth-confiscation-is-now-starting-to-happen-all-over-the-globe/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dcclothesline.com/2013/09/25/cyprus-style-wealth-confiscation-is-now-starting-to-happen-all-over-the-globe/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bailouts forced taxpayers to financially rescue big banks that had engaged in risky financial activity, using the infamous “too big to fail” excuse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How much longer can Germany sustain the very shaky European Union? Should they bring back their own currency, the Deutsche Mark? As more large deposits and capital leave Greece when banks reopen, corporate asset controls may emerge. The Greek market may be shocked and defaults of various debt instruments may emerge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Romanian friend, Florina, explained the Greek crisis in terms that most people can understand. “I loaned money to a family in a time of financial crisis so that they can survive, and the family did not curtail their spending, they blew the money on unnecessary stuff; now the family is holding a meeting to vote if they are going to pay me back or not. That’s Greece now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/bailout-bailins-and-greeks-trojan-horse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-216532580765501245Sat, 27 Jun 2015 13:38:00 +00002015-06-27T06:39:33.768-07:00bigotryconundrumsequalityindoctrinationmanufactured crisismiserynormalizing the abnormalpovertyracismTPPwelfarePolitical and Societal Conundrums, Normalizing the Abnormal<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I attempted to discuss politics in my former country, one young cousin commented wryly that individuals are not preoccupied with politics like Americans are; people are too worried about daily economic survival and loss of “entitlements.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After decades of communism, the culture of dependency is strongly ingrained and is not likely to go away. Voters are too uninformed, he added. They say, ‘who cares who is elected, they are all corrupt,” but then eagerly accept the meager bribes of $15-$20 in exchange for their vote, whether it’s a vote for mayoral elections or for higher office, and then line up for the promised “social benefits.” Once they obtain said benefits, they complain that nothing ever changes in society because it is all rigged against the poor. Sounds familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve never seen so many young people idle, out of work, smoking and drinking in cafes, discussing philosophy and the virtues of socialism, unashamed to extend their hands to receive undeserved and unearned government support, as I have seen in Europe. A few countries are tightening their welfare belts but the citizens protest vehemently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our young Americans, the products of decades of public school indoctrination into socialism and Marxism, are equally perplexing in their outrageous and confusing demands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They want equality but fail to understand that “free people are not equal.” They refuse to understand because their revisionist history teachers have taught them that communist utopia makes everyone “equal.” They don’t know that communist elites were rich beyond anybody’s dreams and wanted to maintain the status quo while everyone else was equally poor and equally miserable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another conundrum is expressed in the chants rioters use during organized mayhem, like “America is capitalist and greedy.” Yet almost half of the population is on some type of welfare and citizens on the dole see themselves as the “victims” of white men, the “white devils,” who succeeded in life because they had bogus “white privilege.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a country where every child receives an award and a trophy for participation in a competition and an undeserved, often shocking praise for fiascos, it is no surprise that failures want to be recognized for sloth and lack of work ethic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When blatant lies and deception are endlessly justified, while corruption and treasonous behavior are no longer punished, right is wrong, wrong is right, is it any wonder that our youth have a distorted view of reality?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These imagined “black victims” predominantly run the government in most bankrupt U.S. cities and enable their constituents to remain on generational dole, asking constantly for more. As they claim to be poorer and poorer, in spite of trillions of dollars spent on the War on Poverty, they have personal property that people in other countries wish they had and fantasized about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These same “poor,” “enslaved” people, who never mention the real slave states in 21<sup>st</sup>century Africa and Asia, are demanding reparations for their ancestors’ slavery, egged on by progressive academia; they drive the manufactured narrative of racism, of bigotry, of hate speech, in the most tolerant country on the planet, in an attempt to silence and shame all whites into blind submission to the bipartisan rulers of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are not supposed to judge an entire religion for the actions of one Muslim terrorist because he is a “lone wolf” but because one lunatic, drugged-up individual chose to murder in cold blood nine innocent people, we must immediately blame everything liberals ever wanted to change on various symbols this deranged young man displayed or used, and reorient our entire society to fit the one world government agenda. “Never let a crisis go to waste,” even a crisis as senseless and hateful as this one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The country is described as “racist,” everyone cowers in shame, and immediately agree with the “transformational liberal agenda” that we must purge any symbol of our history, of our past, any word or phrase in our language that may be deemed offensive to someone of a “darker-pigmented skin.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The American flag, the Confederate flag, and any statues, monuments, and graves must be removed because it offends those who don’t know nor care to know their history; if you are not removing them fast enough, let’s deface them with graffiti such as “black lives matter.” Farrakhan wants to remove all American flags!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you cannot purchase a Confederate flag in the Gettysburg museum shop, where can you? And why are large retailers banning the sale of the Confederate flag but still selling the Nazi swastika flag and Che Guevara t-shirts, the butcher who “murdered thousands, forced thousands more into slavery, and drove more than a million to exile,” and an inveterate racist? </span><a href="http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/michael-j-totten/truth-about-che-guevara"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/michael-j-totten/truth-about-che-guevara</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Young Americans, who live in a distorted world manufactured by the progressive academia and the deceitful main stream media, have no idea what they are asking for or what they are admiring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Michael J. Totten said, “…anti-establishment young people all over the world have Che’s face on their walls and their T-shirts. Most of them don’t know anything real about the man they admire. They have no idea he was one of the most violently illiberal establishment figures in the Western Hemisphere’s history. They admire the image, which is and always has been a fraud.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we must destroy our own history and all the symbolism attached to it and remake our American past in the fake vision of liberalism that wants to shape the youth of the world into global citizens. The only country that stands in the way is the United States. But this former bastion is crumbling day by day into the dustbin of the former empires. It is falling from within through the work of its elected self-serving representatives and the ignorant and dishonest voters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Illegal aliens and amnesty must be our number one priority, we are told ad nauseam, they represent a significant and very important voting block for all politicians; money is no object in pleasing them, while benefits to veterans and to the military are being cut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">America is so “unjust” that we must change it and make it like those perfect socialist and bankrupt European countries liberals envy and admire where everyone is “equal” on paper and “social justice” reigns supreme in theory, basking in the glory of failed multiculturalism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">America must change because it has had a good run as an “evil empire,” we are told by progressive admirers of Marx, Engels, Stalin, Lenin, and Mao. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Any perversion that violates religious beliefs and family values must be taught to our children starting in kindergarten, without parental approval. “Free-range parenting,” another liberal category constructed to demean our worth and bring us down to animal level, is verboten. Parents who engage in such practices that allow kids to be kids, play outdoors, or home-school them away from the destructive Common Core, must be arrested and stripped of their rights.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Liberals invent new language, force strange labels on us, trans-gender, trans-racial, trans-normal, trans-sexual, trans-human, just add the prefix “trans.” Liberals are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">normalizing the abnormal</b>, marginalizing the majority of us as irrelevant. Only then will we achieve the sought-after “equality” and “justice” under the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will we then be a perfect society built in the progressive image of utopian Marxism with citizen slaves to the Orwellian government where some animals are more “equal” than others? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or is this just a distraction to do the bidding of large corporations and pass the basement-guarded Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a disguised giveaway of our sovereignty (under the excuse of globalist trade) to a foreign entity composed of a “committee” nobody knows, elects, can talk about, reign in, nullify, or supersede?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/political-and-societal-conundrums.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-316725910123939161Thu, 25 Jun 2015 14:06:00 +00002015-06-25T07:06:43.581-07:00Castro careMengheliesocialized medicineGuide to Staying Alive and Healthy under Castro Care <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming in contact with the “new and improved” American Castro Care for the masses that squeaks like a rusty wheel wrapped in cellophane and tied with a red bow, I realize that quality healthcare for American citizens and their undocumented brethren, who crossed the border illegally or were brought here by our government to fulfill the quota of Democrat voters and to alter the “racially unjust” and “bigoted” profile of sleepy little towns, might soon be a thing of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you take a handful of antibiotics before you have a medical procedure, your chances of survival double, especially if you know that your doctor’s handshake to improve his/her bedside manner passed to you all the germs from the previous eight patients because surveys say that doctors only wash hands after every eighth patient they touch. Very reassuring, isn’t it? But, it could be worse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then there are the foreign nurses and orderlies who come from third world countries where soap and water are scarce and sanitation is hard to grasp, especially since bacteria and viruses are invisible to the naked eye. Too much washing is bad for human skin and not part of some cultures. Who are we to judge, liberals ask rhetorically. Hand-washing may be against their religion as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You better thank your lucky stars that you get freshly cleaned and bleached sheets. As Marean Menghelie wrote, in eastern European socialized medicine, you could find yourself wrapped in a sheet with Crayola graffiti, with dried up blood that does not belong to you, ketchup stains when ketchup is not served in the hospital cafeteria, motor oil stains from the previous patient who cut his finger in an auto shop, suspicious yellow stains, or even dried-up vomit if you are really lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And don’t dare to use the shower or the bathroom on your own, especially if you are hooked up to a tree of life with glucose and other happy drugs that can stop your heart. Why take the chance to pull the needle right out of your vein and spray the walls with a spritz of fresh blood. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always ring the bedside button. When nobody shows up, and they seldom do, try to crawl out of bed carefully so as not to set off the bed alarm and watch out – the floor is really hard. If it rings anyway, hurry up to the bathroom and lock the door. There is always a young college student in nursing school assigned to babysit you and force you into compliance with hospital rules.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Menghelie suggested that you should be careful what you eat from the socialized medicine hospital offerings. Smell it suspiciously, wait for other patients in the ward to try it first, and consider eating only if nobody croaks right away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Better yet, don’t eat at all. If you wanted to eat, you should have gone to a restaurant, not a hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you must have a procedure, you have to bribe the doctor (it is expected) to make sure he/she does an extra good job and you emerge alive. Watch to make sure they put the bribe money clearly labeled with your name in an envelope and ask, in case you don’t make it, if there is a refund policy payable to the family for burial expenses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Menghelie even recommended a nice payoff for the RNs, the next in line to make sure you are properly sedated and cared for after surgery. Bring proper amount of cash as they are not ATMs to make change. It is good insurance that they will smile, give you shots properly, or draw blood on the first try without bruising your entire arm. Make sure, he advised, you bribe two nurses so that the second shift won’t leave you thirsty, in pain, or with your diaper wet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Socialized medicine is great and it works well in the small bankrupt countries of Europe when you have the sniffles or the flu. It will work wonders for our 308 million Americans, give and take a few million undocumented arrivals that the government does not seem to be able to count accurately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dental care in socialized Europe is another story. There is a reason why so many Europeans don’t smile. It’s not that daily life is harder or that they are in a perennial bad mood. They are just either sporting gaps in their pearly browns or yellows or have ill-fitting dentures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aren’t you glad that the U.S. is going to finally join the rest of the civilized world? What took us so long? We’ve been overpaying for services, good doctors, and good insurance for so long. How could we have been so ignorant for so long? Lucky us that the ‘wise’ progressives came along to set us straight and give us Obama Care!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can give you lots of savvy advice but it suffices to say that it would be better if you could stay healthy and away from doctors and dangerous pharmaceutical products that tend to cause more harm and mortal danger than the actual disease. And take your vitamins. You are going to live as long as God intended you to live no matter what you do.</span></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/guide-to-staying-alive-and-healthy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-9080735318920989066Wed, 24 Jun 2015 03:51:00 +00002015-06-23T20:51:23.493-07:00communismenvironmentalismglobalismimmigrationmiddle classmulticulturalismvotingA Cancer across the Earth Called Globalism <span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I just returned from a two-week trip to Romania and, I am sad to say, what many have warned us about years ago, has come to pass even in Romania, the country that had suffered so much under four decades of communist dictatorship. They managed to replace one evil master,&nbsp;the communists, with another, the globalists/corporatists/statists.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">At one of the empty truck stops and restaurants where we stopped for a soda, a southern Romanian was telling us how afraid people are of their children’s uncertain future, of their finances, and of the dwindling opportunities for success that seem to vanish more each day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">No sooner had Romanians freed themselves from communism in 1989 that the European Union has stepped in with their Fabian Socialism, bringing in lots of indoctrination and other demand strings attached to their financial help for the newly minted and impoverished EU state in dire financial need, Romania. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Dr. Savage warned us about liberalism&nbsp;as a&nbsp;mental disorder. European progressive liberals on steroids, with their failed multiculturalism, have influenced Romanian economics and politics so much that they are now well underway to global governance, an insidious and noxious control by a few elites poised&nbsp;to own&nbsp;the globe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Romania now has the green party, environmentalism gone-amuck, school indoctrination into the cult of Gaia, destruction of national identity, revisionist history, Muslim and multicultural immigration,&nbsp;ignoring anything that identifies and ties Romanians to their culture and language, strange music, depraved and debauched fashion and behavior, drugs, replacement of perfectly good Romanian words with English neologisms, brainwashing of the population by the church into blind submission to the statists, corruption at all levels, bribery of 5-15 euro for each vote, socialized medical care on a dwindling budget, and disappearance of the middle class which had emerged successfully after the supposed fall of the communists in 1989. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">A few conservatives, like ignored Cassandras, have lectured listeners who cared to pay attention about the out-of-control immigration and all the hallmarks of&nbsp;the new world order that is taking over like a metastasized cancer every facet of our lives in the U.S. and across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Unemployment is high, inflation is escalating, jobs are not&nbsp;created, politicians make empty&nbsp;and dishonest promises&nbsp;to the voters, contracts and companies are moving overseas,&nbsp;young people seek jobs elsewhere in the European Union, no big time corrupt politicians are going to jail, and there is a feeling of hopelessness for the future of their children. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I was saddened to see in Romania the same elements of global control,&nbsp;despair, and welfare dependency&nbsp;we see in the U.S.&nbsp;today. The church supports statism and the hoax of global warming packaged as the climate change industry worth trillions of dollars. Even the Pope is now a climatologist and anti-gun lobbyist.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">But there are some important differences. Romanians are very proud of their beautiful country. The Romanian flag is patriotically flown on every building and on every summit. Everybody speaks fluent Romanian if they want to become citizens. No ballots come in any other language and no translators are necessary or provided by the government for welfare services. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">The border is safe and secure and one must have a valid passport to cross it. There is no stoked racism and bigotry every day from the administration in power. Nobody wants to disarm Romanians and certainly not their government. If the population learned anything from an embattled and painful history is that disarmed citizens become hopeless slaves to their government masters in power. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Freedom of speech is safe for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There is no liberal-imposed political correctness that stifles and prevents freedom of speech, nor are there academic corners dubbed “free speech zones.” Academics as a group love their country and students still have free exchange of ideas at the university. People who disagree with progressives are not labeled haters and terrorists and their lives are not threatened. The Constitution is safe and does not operate side-by-side with Sharia Law. Immigration is legally permitted within the bounds of “how does it benefit the Romanian people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-cancer-across-earth-called-globalism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-2900725109802983111Sun, 21 Jun 2015 16:00:00 +00002015-06-21T09:00:55.845-07:00Agenda 21Brundtland Commissionconservation easementsEarth Charterenvironmental juristic democracyglobal governanceGro BrundtlandMikhail GorbachevNGOsSustainable DevelopmentEarth System Global Governance, The Earth Charter, and Sustainable Development <span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the influential voices of the progressive environmentalist movement is The Earth Charter. This organization emphasizes global control of everything. Here is a sampling of its charter with direct quotations.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Respect and care for the community of life” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Respect Earth and life in all its diversity (Protect the delta smelt in California by dumping fresh water into the ocean while an entire state is experiencing drought?) <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful (Is it statistically true that democratic societies are peaceful, just, and do not go to war but constitutional republic do? Where is the evidence?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations (Would that be accomplished by taking arable land out of production, re-wild it, and then restrict human habitation to designated urban areas as evidenced by the Biodiversity map also known as the Wildlands Project map?) </span><a href="http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/images/wildlands_map.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/images/wildlands_map.jpg</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Ecological integrity” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adopt at all levels sustainable development plans and regulations that make environmental conservation and rehabilitation integral to all development initiatives (This is definitely in full swing in all the Green Growth, Smart Growth Initiatives of Agenda 21 that restrict zoning to multi-purpose high rise living, particularly in the U.S.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being (Would U.N. decide the patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ensure universal access to health care that fosters reproductive health and responsible reproduction (Who exactly decides what is responsible reproduction and what is not and how will it be enforced?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adopt lifestyles that emphasize the quality of life and material sufficiency in a finite world (Who becomes the arbiter of lifestyle and what constitute material sufficiency?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Act with restraint and efficiency when using energy, and rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind” (Who decides what ‘restraint’ is in using energy and what is the cutoff when use is disallowed?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Social and Economic Justice” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations (Redistribution of wealth is already underway, from producers to non-producers.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity (This gender equality and equity seems to be working well in the Muslim world dictatorships.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities” (If it’s universal access, isn’t it discriminatory to give special attention to certain groups? What kind of ‘right of all’ are they talking about?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to sustainable development (Empower youth to do what with sustainable development?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Treat all living beings with respect and consideration (Would animals receive lawyers to make sure humans treat animals with ‘respect and consideration?’)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Demilitarize national security system to the level of a non-provocative defense posture, and convert military resources to peaceful purposes, including ecological restoration (Who decides what constitutes levels of non-provocative defense posture and how military resources will be converted to peaceful purposes?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eliminate nuclear, biological, and toxic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, Ensure that the use of orbital and outer space supports environmental protection and peace </span><a href="http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Read-the-Charter.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Read-the-Charter.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And who is going to do all this global governance (control) of the Earth through sustainable development, the lynchpin of U.N. Agenda 21? United Nations, of course, run by none other than third world nations, the very beneficiaries of this wealth redistribution through “justice and peace” scheme. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would not exactly call wealth confiscation from the producers to the non-producers “justice” or “peaceful.” I would call it unjust and coercive seizure of earned wealth under the guise of saving the planet from a non-existent <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>environmental meltdown. The constant loud rhetoric coming from the progressive main stream media, academia, and crony capitalists has created a very rich and lucrative climate change industry worth trillions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements, and support the implementation of Earth Charter principles with an international legally binding instrument on environment and development.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the occasion of the Earth Charter’s 15 years of sustainable global governance indoctrination, the Earth Charter is planning activities and propaganda around the globe to push further its “universal ethical principles of sustainable development under the slogan, “One Earth Community, One Common Destiny” and the banner “Earth Charter +15.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Earth Charter was launched on June 29, 2000 in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The partners of the Earth Charter are listed here. </span><a href="http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Partners.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Partners.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Council members listed oversee the work of the Earth Charter Secretariat. </span><a href="http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Council.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Council.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Earth Charter Secretariat staff is listed here. </span><a href="http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Secretariat%20Staff"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Secretariat%20Staff</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mikhail Gorbachev, the co-author of The Earth Charter wrote, “I envisage the principles of The Earth Charter to be a new form of the Ten Commandments. They lay the foundation for a sustainable global earth community.” The citizens of various countries who believe in the Biblical Ten Commandments must reorient their entire lives to fit this new directive of progressive global governance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the United Nations Commission on Global Governance, “Regionalism must precede globalism. We foresee a seamless system of governance from local communities, individual states, regional unions, and up through to the United Nations itself.” What a neat Ponzi scheme of wealth redistribution in the name of saving the Earth from man-made Armageddon!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you wonder about this new world order, here is a simple explanation how they are doing it. “The alternative to the existing world order can only emerge as a result of a new human dimension of progress. We envision a revolution of the mind, a new way of thinking,” said Mikhail Gorbachev at the State of the World Forum. Schools have been quite busy in the last forty years indoctrinating children into the global governance new way of thinking and the global citizen mindset.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 2015 Canberra Conference on Earth System Governance, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Democracy and Resilience in the Anthropocene,”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>will offer a Summer School on Earth System Governance (December 9-12, 2015) and an excursion to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (December 13, 2015). <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the Smithsonian, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anthropocene </b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">has become an environmental buzzword ever since the atmospheric chemist and Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen popularized it in 2000.” Environmental activists have blamed “man” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">anthropo</b>) and “new” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cene</b>) for causing extinction of plants and animals and polluting the planet through man’s industrial revolution, having changed the atmosphere and the climate irreversibly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-is-the-anthropocene-and-are-we-in-it-164801414/#RApVwdO4tHMSkqrT.99"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-is-the-anthropocene-and-are-we-in-it-164801414/#RApVwdO4tHMSkqrT.99</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The newest title in the Earth System Governance series is available from MIT Press, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Consensus and Global Environmental Governance: Deliberative Democracy in Nature’s Regime,”</b>exploring “the practical and conceptual implications of juristic democracy as a new approach to international environmental governance.” More global governance publications and abstracts can be found at </span><a href="http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/publications"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.earthsystemgovernance.org/publications</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are wondering what “juristic democracy” is and what it has to do with the environment, you are not alone. I don’t think that “consensus” has a place in science and science reasoning; “consensus” means general agreement of opinion, it is not a scientific fact. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to its website, “The Earth System Governance Project is the largest social science research network in the area of governance and global environmental change.”</span><span lang="EN"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The researchers include “social and natural scientists.” <span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Sustainable Development buzz word that is now used in every facet of our lives has been defined in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland Commission) report titled ‘Our Common Future.’ Sustainable Development is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">United Nations agencies working against the economic needs and wishes of U.S. citizens compiled a blueprint for achieving sustainable development called U.N. Agenda 21. This 40 chapter document (about 300 pages) addresses every facet of human life and how sustainable development should be implemented through local, state, and federal government. With its grant-making power (‘visioning grants’ and ‘challenge grants’) and conservation easements (lower taxes in exchange for taking land out of agricultural use or any use for several years or in perpetuity) , the federal government promoted the sustainable development idea and policies to the state and local levels with the creation of an army of new community of sustainable development NGOs (non-government organizations) such as the American Planning Association, the Sustainable Resource Center, and the Institute for Sustainable Development. There is not one level of government left in the U.S. or university that does not have a Sustainable Development plan in place or a degree program that involves the phrase Sustainable Development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/earth-system-global-governance-earth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-4031910576264902266Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:07:00 +00002015-06-18T21:07:47.708-07:00Ana BlandianaCardinal Iuliu HossuCeausescuGheorghe I. BratianuGreyhound's AmericaIuliu ManiiuRomulus RusanSighet Memorialvictims of communismThe Memorial to the Victims of Communism and Sighet Museum <span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was digging furiously through my book shelves, looking for one special volume which I had brought with me from Romania when I immigrated to the United States. After half an hour I found my May 1977 first edition of Romulus Rusan’s book, “Greyhound’s America,” published in Romanian during the brutal communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never understood how such a book that told the truth about life in the west escaped his publishing censoring goons. I was going to finally find out as I was going to meet Romulus Rusan and his equally famous and lovely wife, the poet Ana Blandiana. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romulus Rusan told me that his editor revealed to him that, of the 100,000 plus copies of his first edition book that were sold in Ceausescu’s Romania, probably half of the readers immigrated to the U.S. He could not understand why Rusan was not arrested by the communist regime. His wife joked that they must have labored under a lucky star, under divine protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPeYk2B9HCE/VYOTPgffafI/AAAAAAAAB24/merO4o5j53o/s1600/Romanian%2BAmbassador%2Bat%2BWashington%2Bwith%2BAna%2BBlandiana%2Band%2BRomulus%2BRusan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPeYk2B9HCE/VYOTPgffafI/AAAAAAAAB24/merO4o5j53o/s320/Romanian%2BAmbassador%2Bat%2BWashington%2Bwith%2BAna%2BBlandiana%2Band%2BRomulus%2BRusan.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romanian Ambassador at Washington <br />Romulus Rusan and Ana Blandiana<br />(Photo: Ileana Johnson, June 3, 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I met Ana Blandiana and Romulus Rusan at a Romanian Embassy serata honoring their literary work and their untiring efforts to bring to light the horrors of communism in the First Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Sighet, Romania. A true labor of love, their work began in 1993 with the acquisition of the Sighet Prison, a condemned ruin. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The former prison built in 1897 to incarcerate common criminals, was used during First and Second World Wars for political inmates, priests, Polish revolutionaries, and Romanian deserters. During the period of 1948 to 1950, resistance fighters from Maramures, peasants and students, were imprisoned here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Between May 1950 and July 1955, it served as a maximum-security facility, holding ministers, members of Parliament, journalists, officers, priests, and other religious leaders. During this time, 54 of those held died while in custody and were buried in unmarked graves. In 1955 the prison became again a jail for common criminals with more creature “comforts.” Because of a decree in 1975 which ruled that prison sentences had to be served in the workplace, the prison was closed and abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ana Blandiana and Romulus Rusan petitioned the Council of Europe to open a museum in the former prison which had become, as they described it, an “insalubrious ruin.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj1FdgzWDIo/VYOTtJjTVmI/AAAAAAAAB3A/5OALYPcVZPY/s1600/House_of_memorial_of_victims_of_communism%2BSighet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj1FdgzWDIo/VYOTtJjTVmI/AAAAAAAAB3A/5OALYPcVZPY/s320/House_of_memorial_of_victims_of_communism%2BSighet.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sighet Museum<br />(photo: Wikipedia)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With funds from the Civic Academy Foundation, the International Centre for Studies of Communism, and the untiring efforts of Ana Blandiana and Romulus Rusan, the former prison became the first museum of its kind in the world, dedicated to the victims of communism in Romania and in all former communist countries of the Iron Curtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each cell became a separately-themed room with its own chronology of death and destruction of the human body and spirit caused by the most oppressive form of dictatorship in history – communism. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the Civic Academy Foundation was established to create the museum at Sighet, the 175 founding members chose Ana Blandiana to be President.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The exterior of the building was repaired with help from Hanns Seidel Foundation and from private donations. The actual repair work commenced on July 1, 1996 and the Memorial was inaugurated on June 20, 1997. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Former political prisoners, Orthodox priest Constantin Voiculescu and Graeco-Catholic priest Eugen Popa, held the religious service to consecrate <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Space for Recollection and Prayer</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was amazed that a husband and wife team was able to bring to life such a significant memorial with limited resources and a gargantuan effort, yet the west is still struggling to raise funds to build a similar museum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to the Civic Academy which is attended by students and professors from Europe, the International Center for Studies into Communism, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to the Resistance, the Sighet Museum has been visited to date by more than one million people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfHhYnwpJQ8/VYOT8NJ8QBI/AAAAAAAAB3I/tNfNWCkJGUM/s1600/Procession%2Bof%2Bsacrified%2Bbeings%2Bby%2BAurel%2BI.%2BVlad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfHhYnwpJQ8/VYOT8NJ8QBI/AAAAAAAAB3I/tNfNWCkJGUM/s1600/Procession%2Bof%2Bsacrified%2Bbeings%2Bby%2BAurel%2BI.%2BVlad.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Cortege of the Sacrificial Victims by Aurel I. Vlad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Photo: Widipedia)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The symbolic statuary entitled “The Cortege of the Sacrificial Victims” by Aurel Vlad depicts humans walking in various stances of resignation, heads bowed down or raised to the sky, some with hands up, begging, imploring, appealing to a higher power, and wondering why. When it rains, the rivulets make the statues appear as if the victims are crying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5cl-N_H3l9s/VYOUONLIl4I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/FseUdgylOXg/s1600/Sighet%2BCell%2BWikipedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5cl-N_H3l9s/VYOUONLIl4I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/FseUdgylOXg/s1600/Sighet%2BCell%2BWikipedia.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sighet prison cells</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Photo: Wikipedia)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dozens and dozens of rooms in the museum tell the horrible stories of the most oppressive period in Romania’s modern history:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More than 10,000 trials were held according to the Communist Party template – accusations of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>‘treason,’ ‘plotting against the social order,’ ‘espionage,’ ‘sabotage,’ ‘diversion,’ ‘inimical attitude,’ ‘public instigation,’ ‘fraudulent crossing of the border,’ ‘omitting to make a denunciation,’ and ‘dissemination of forbidden publications;’ they were always followed by hard prison time and sometimes death. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More than 2 million people were persecuted politically using “coercive methods,” with hundreds of thousands arrested administratively, without trial, some up to ten years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">600,000 Romanians were arrested and sentenced to prison between 1945-1989<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">200,000 Romanians were deported to forced labor camps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Destruction of traditional parties, National Peasant Party, National Liberal and Social Democrat Party, and installation of one party, the Communist Party, replacing a multi-party democratic regime with a one-party state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Repression against the Romanian Orthodox Church, Graeco-Catholic Church, Protestant and Evangelical churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Installation of the dreaded <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Securitate</b> by decree in August 1948, following the infiltration by communists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1944.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Use of political detainees in hard labor camps for various building projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How individual farmers were forced into collectivization, the peasants’ resistance, and their swift repressions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sovietization of the population, forced submission into communism by purging, beatings, and confiscation of personal property.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Orchestrated by communist organizers like Emil Bodnaras, Ana Pauker, and other Moscow agents, the army, the police, and the justice system were forcefully transformed into communist arms of the police-state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Firing and assignment to manual jobs or labor camps of any teachers opposed to the communist regime; those remaining and the new teachers had to become the “new man” through violent ideological and propaganda subjects, becoming tools of the Marxist-Leninist education based on Soviet-style textbooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ethnic repression, accusations of “Zionism” and the maltreatment of gypsies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deportation of 44,000 people to the Baragan steppe; 1,700 of the deportees died; the oldest person was deported at the age of 95 and lasted until he turned 100.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anti-communist resistance in the Fagaras Mountains and Western Carpathians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Women who gave birth in prison and their children were removed and sent to orphanages; 4,200 women, mothers, wives, or daughters of political prisoners were also imprisoned as “dangers to the social order.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The famous historian Gheorghe I. Bratianu was imprisoned at Sighet for twenty-four months and died there in April 1953; on August 6, 1953, the Interior Ministry decided to increase the prison sentence of a dead man by 60 months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">High school students were deported and served time in communist prisons for either running into the mountains to join the partisans or defacing/tearing up official posters and portraits, telling jokes, writing epigrams, and drawing cartoons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doctors and medical students were imprisoned for refusing to adopt communist jargon and for not rejecting “all that was western.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Room 9 is the cell where the famous Iuliu Maniu died in 1953 (1873-1953); his cell was left untouched, with thick bars and the broken bed with wires sticking out from the dirty mattress; Maniu, the architect of the unification of Transylvania with Romania in 1918, the former Romanian Prime Minister, leader of the National Peasant Party and of the National Romanian Party, former Parliament member in Bucharest and Budapest, attorney for the Graeco-Catholic Church, landowner<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>and leader of the Democratic opposition, a man who dedicated his entire life to public service, died alone in his frigid cell, without a candle or the presence of another human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who died in prison at Sighet from 1952 on were buried secretly at night on the banks of the River Tisa at the border with the former USSR. (Romulus Rusan, Museum Archives and Guide, 1993-2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Horrible details about the prison life had emerged slowly from those who survived, from guards, and from those forced to clean and sweep the hallways and the prison courtyard. They would sometimes exchange a few words with political prisoners who were stronger and able to stand up and speak. Those who became very ill were usually isolated and deprived of medical treatment until it was too late to assimilate extra food such as potatoes, and they expired.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The food served was inadequate for&nbsp;survival. The communist guards hoped the prisoners would die quickly of malnutrition and starvation. Cardinal Iuliu Hossu of the Cluj Graeco-Catholic Church wrote in his memoirs that the “soup was water with a piece of vegetable floating in it.” It was considered a delicacy to find a “hard piece of a cow’s hairy lip” bobbing in this watery soup. </span><a href="http://www.romanialibera.ro/aldine/history/cum-a-murit-iuliu-maniu-la-sighet-215636"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.romanialibera.ro/aldine/history/cum-a-murit-iuliu-maniu-la-sighet-215636</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The inmates received no medical assistance. Knowing that dying men and women were unable to metabolize the extra calories, the guards would give them extra food. And if the lack of proper nutrition and medical care did not kill the political prisoners, the bitter cold of northern Romania exacerbated by the thick walls most certainly caused hypothermia and death.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Sighet Museum is a living monument to the cruelty of communism and to the inhumane treatment that millions of innocent citizens were subjected to by tyrants and their failed ideology, an ideology concocted by a dangerous man named Karl Marx whose theories ultimately destroyed the human spirit, imprisoned free men, and killed over 100 million worldwide in the name of collectivism, equality, and social justice. </span><a href="http://www.memorialsighet.ro/index.php?lang=en"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.memorialsighet.ro/index.php?lang=en</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-memorial-to-victims-of-communism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-2495806251425213816Thu, 18 Jun 2015 03:41:00 +00002015-06-17T20:41:07.858-07:00communist platformcommunistsFabian socialistsKarl Marxparasitic theorysocialiststheoryThe Socialist Left Wants to Make Things Right <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a tune many failed socialist nations have heard before. When the mainstream media proclaimed a few years ago, “We are all socialists now,” people shrugged their shoulders and went about their capitalist business. </span></span><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/we-are-all-socialists-now-82577"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.newsweek.com/we-are-all-socialists-now-82577</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do Americans at large understand that socialism involves various economic and political <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">theories </b>which advocate collective or government ownership of the means of production and the distribution of goods? I bold-faced the word “theories” because the practice is quite a resounding failure in all countries in which it was tried or it is currently used. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you point to European Fabian socialists as a success story, you are not paying attention to the bankruptcy level of debt of all these countries, the result of decades of unrestrained welfare and failed multiculturalism, to the level of confiscatory taxation, enslavement to government, and its forced tolerant social programs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Under socialism there is no private property, advocates and supporters say. It could have fooled me. During the twenty years I lived under the transition form from socialism to communism, all the elites had their private property, including the union bosses appointed by the Communist Party, while the proletariat had nothing. The State run by the Communist Party controlled everything, all the means of production. All we could and had to control was our speech. We could only use thoughts to curse the abject enslavement that the Communist Party apparatchiks subjected us to every day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ever-clever theoretician and parasitic thinker who survived on the generosity of rich friends and patrons, Karl Marx, wrote while scratching his dirty hair, that socialism is an imperfect transition between capitalism and communism where goods and pay were unequally distributed, according to work done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In practice, doctors and unskilled labor were paid approximately the same, removing the incentive to spend years in college to become a doctor. The Democrats and their Occupy Wall Street denizens said, it is obscene for a doctor to make a profit, they don’t deserve it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These same socialists advocate quite loudly a living wage of $15-25 per hour for minimum wage unskilled workers. It is only “fair” and “social justice” to pay someone enough money where they can live comfortably while expending no effort to educate themselves for a career that would enable them to earn a deserved living wage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As someone said, in socialist/communist countries, the remuneration was so poor, “we pretended to work, and they pretended to pay us.” The elites, however, were paid handsomely for doing nothing. But then again, community organizing and agitation must have been hard work for most Bolsheviks who often did not have a high school diploma and were hard-pressed to write an entire sentence coherently.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Socialism is an economic system in which the omnipotent government controls “substantially” the production and distribution of goods, while private enterprise dwindles. We have witnessed the growth of big government in this country and the shrinking of the private sector. Under socialism, competition no longer guides economic activity, cooperation and submission to government rules become the norm.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then there are the Fabian Socialists in existence since the Fabian Society (a British socialist group) was founded in 1884 with “the purpose to advance the principles of socialism via gradualist and reformist means.” The original purpose was to have a socialist economy. Today the society is a think tank affiliated with the Labour Party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is never a shortage of new converts to socialism or socialist wannabes. Take for instance the socialist reading groups spreading around the country among Millennials. Michael Savage called the Millennials “the new Red Brigades.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Influenced by the magazine named after the Haitian rebel slave Jacobin, the reading groups (Millennials and Occupy Wall Street “veterans”) are focused on organized labor even though union membership has dropped to 11 percent in this country. Jacobin is a popular magazine among “a disaffected white bro socialist demographics.” </span></span><a href="http://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-post1047/20150613/282183649677663/TextView"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-post1047/20150613/282183649677663/TextView</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because the economy is so bad and these Millennials are finding that employment is hard to find especially when they have pursued unmarketable majors such as Studies of…, Human Rights, Social Justice, Sustainable Development and other worthless degrees, they are easy prey to community organizers who want to put a shiny new coat on socialism in the 21<sup>st</sup> century, repackage it, and sell it to a bunch of spoiled brats who have never experienced shortages of anything in their lives but were subjected to constant indoctrination in schools about the utopian marvels of socialism and communism. And the indoctrination of the last 40 years is finally bearing fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They should have asked the people who risked death fleeing hellholes of socialism in order to come to this country where private enterprise gave them the opportunity to grow out of poverty and become successful if they were willing to work hard. Unfortunately many new immigrants, legal and illegal, want to establish in this country the exact third world poverty and crime they’ve escaped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-socialist-left-wants-to-make-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-3488038914213817594Thu, 18 Jun 2015 03:11:00 +00002015-06-17T20:11:17.594-07:00AM radiocommunismcommunism platformIleana JohnsonLuca ZannaTwo immigrants who love America discuss on am radio why communism is bad&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l/TAQFEBJx-AQEkUa6bx7mPJSFORIVjoKkFME2nAYJlJkuEfQ/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTVEf52Wd21w" style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://l.facebook.com/l/<wbr></wbr>TAQFEBJx-<wbr></wbr>AQEkUa6bx7mPJSFORIVjoKkFME2nAY<wbr></wbr>JlJkuEfQ/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.<wbr></wbr>youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%<wbr></wbr>3DTVEf52Wd21w</a><br />http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/two-immigrants-who-love-america-discuss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-2887184947735302544Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:56:00 +00002015-06-16T04:56:12.269-07:00Barsa LandBibleBlack ChurchBran CastleBrasovCitadelDeacon CoresiEthnography museumFirst Romanian SchoolRasnovRope StreetSt. Nicholas churchTeutonic knightsTransylvaniaBrasov, a Jewel in Transylvania's Crown<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PA8dh_P-E4/VYAE0aahkuI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/tLRpRcNNAR8/s1600/Brasov%2Bdowntown%2Bpost%2Boffice%2Band%2Bprefect%2527s%2Boffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PA8dh_P-E4/VYAE0aahkuI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/tLRpRcNNAR8/s320/Brasov%2Bdowntown%2Bpost%2Boffice%2Band%2Bprefect%2527s%2Boffice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brasov Downtown (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brasov is truly a jewel, a rare pearl in the Transylvanian crown. The Barsa Land surrounding Brasov is a portal into the southern Carpathians’ thick forests, castles, citadels, Evangelical churches, and other historical sites. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Teutonic Knights protected this area between 1211 and 1225 from the invasion of the Cumans, a Turkic migratory tribe. South of Brasov is the Prahova Valley where I was born and raised decades ago, a land rich in oil with fields of corn and wheat stretching as far as the eye can see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite its heavy industrialization during the communist regime, Brasov kept its medieval character and fresh air. Workers were crushed here in 1987 during a revolt against Ceausescu’s tyrannical regime. Many were arrested and taken to infamous prisons around the country to serve as model for those who would dare again to oppose the dear leader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LLCdr3VR_E/VYAJZ7ZFxYI/AAAAAAAAB0o/C-p3rIZnNiI/s1600/Brasov%2Bpedestrian%2Bwalk%2Bto%2BBlack%2BChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LLCdr3VR_E/VYAJZ7ZFxYI/AAAAAAAAB0o/C-p3rIZnNiI/s320/Brasov%2Bpedestrian%2Bwalk%2Bto%2BBlack%2BChurch.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brasov pedestrian walk (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pedestrian walkway from the downtown center to the Black Church is dotted with cozy cafes and restaurants offering local cuisine, street food, Strudel, pizza, and gelato. The cobble-stoned Council Square is very close to the History Museum which holds among its collections the first known document written in Romanian in 1521; the Black Church and the Ethnography Museum, with displays like a walk through a medieval market, are flanking the square.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The famous “Cerbul Carpatin” (Carpathian Stag) restaurant serves delicious Romanian cuisine both indoors and outdoors. Folkloric groups entertain guests with their Romanian music and famous vocalists soothe the hearts of those longing for lost loves. Hunting trophies complement the décor, typical country art with handmade furniture, stained glass, and peasant table cloths.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Black Church is actually St. Mary’s Evangelical Church. Its walls have been blackened by a fire during the Habsburg siege of Brasov in 1689 which killed 3,000 people. This church has been in existence since 1383. A statue of its most famous priest, Johannes Honterus (1498-1549), stands outside. Honterus helped disseminate Martin Luther’s 1517 “95 theses” challenging the “corrupt practice of selling ‘indulgences’ to absolve sin.” The Protestant Reformation that “emerged was shaped by Luther’s ideas. His writings changed the course of religious and cultural history in the West.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdLmnmd9DCw/VYAJucaocyI/AAAAAAAAB0w/aKPFtfkhdLI/s1600/Black%2BChurch%2Bpiazza%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdLmnmd9DCw/VYAJucaocyI/AAAAAAAAB0w/aKPFtfkhdLI/s320/Black%2BChurch%2Bpiazza%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black Church on the left (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9nBJ9G22-w/VYAK7EkJrcI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/v4JHR04v9m4/s1600/Black%2Bchurch%2Btombs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9nBJ9G22-w/VYAK7EkJrcI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/v4JHR04v9m4/s320/Black%2Bchurch%2Btombs.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black Church tombs in the walls (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Famous citizens of Brasov (Kronstadt) were originally buried in the Black Church and their sarcophagi with intricate tombstones are seen in the walls. The practice was stopped centuries ago for sanitary reasons. The local rich who could afford such a burial in the church walls are now entombed in the cemetery across town.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abv1j4q99sE/VYAKCk6PZOI/AAAAAAAAB04/HeFm5XJWPds/s1600/Black%2Bchurch%2Bpew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abv1j4q99sE/VYAKCk6PZOI/AAAAAAAAB04/HeFm5XJWPds/s320/Black%2Bchurch%2Bpew.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black Church pew (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pews are beautifully carved indicating which guilds owned them. There are over 100 Anatolian rugs gifted by Saxon merchants who bought them from Turkish soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The blue organ is used three times a week since there are worries that the heavy sounds vibrate the walls too much, further deteriorating the precious building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJg45I5rfXY/VYANHKgCYOI/AAAAAAAAB14/aPbKp4FcM58/s1600/Etnography%2Bmuseum%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJg45I5rfXY/VYANHKgCYOI/AAAAAAAAB14/aPbKp4FcM58/s320/Etnography%2Bmuseum%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethnography Museum in Brasov (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On my way to the quaint square where the First Romanian School is located, I came upon Strada Sforii (Rope Street), 3.6-4.4 feet in width, advertised to be the narrowest street in Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-9dy0PnP3k/VYAKTLY3ybI/AAAAAAAAB1A/Ql00NBYIgaE/s1600/Schei%2BFirst%2BRomanian%2BSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-9dy0PnP3k/VYAKTLY3ybI/AAAAAAAAB1A/Ql00NBYIgaE/s1600/Schei%2BFirst%2BRomanian%2BSchool.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Romanian School (Photo: Wikipedia)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The First Romanian School is located on the grounds of a 16<sup>th</sup> century church, Sf. Nicolae (St. Nicholas), past the Schei Gate. The school was attended by one pupil per village as space was limited. This pupil was supposed to go back to his village and disseminate to others what he had learned. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the energetic caretaker and guide, Vasile Oltean, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the school was established in the 14<sup>th</sup>century but the building itself was not erected until 1495. Vasile Oltean was himself a former pupil and teacher at the school. The school was still used in the 20<sup>th</sup> century, closing in 1941. When I walked in, a jocular and animated guide was giving a lecture in the classroom to a group of Italian tourists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7qyW-gqLJM/VYAKm6KSkPI/AAAAAAAAB1I/l9tmRDfsPsk/s1600/First%2BRomanian%2Bschool%2Bprinting%2Bpress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7qyW-gqLJM/VYAKm6KSkPI/AAAAAAAAB1I/l9tmRDfsPsk/s320/First%2BRomanian%2Bschool%2Bprinting%2Bpress.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Romanian School printing press (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first Romanian Bible was printed here and Deacon Coresi’s printing press on display in the museum managed to publish only 35 titles but in hundreds of copies. It was so labor-intensive, 10-20 apprentices toiled to hand-sculpt each page through a process called xilo-engraving. It was a labor of love because they helped promote the linguistic unity of the people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The wooden press printed the first Romanian letter in Latin, the first Romanian grammar textbook and the first Bible printed on goatskin, with a cover weighing seven kilograms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EE9T8lswPnc/VYAMZ5QWD-I/AAAAAAAAB1w/XtkFvFlYm18/s1600/Square%2Bof%2BFirst%2Bromanian%2Bschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EE9T8lswPnc/VYAMZ5QWD-I/AAAAAAAAB1w/XtkFvFlYm18/s320/Square%2Bof%2BFirst%2Bromanian%2Bschool.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The square where the First Romanian School is located (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The plaque above the school entrance described the school as the first Romanian School of Greater Romania, rebuilt in stone 1595-1597 with a gift from Prince Aron of Moldavia under the care of Archpriest Mihai, and rebuilt in 1761. The center of education for hundreds of years, it enlightened children and adults alike. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the primary schools and Orthodox high school of Brasov were built, the building served as a meeting place for the parish council and later housed the historic archives of St. Nicholas Church. The tiny school building to the left of the church was not very imposing, but, as a life-long teacher, it made an indelible impression on me on that rainy spring day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afI_eVmi5Jo/VYANjk8i_zI/AAAAAAAAB2A/cBPfIigcyzQ/s1600/Fountain%2Bdowntown%2BBrasov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afI_eVmi5Jo/VYANjk8i_zI/AAAAAAAAB2A/cBPfIigcyzQ/s320/Fountain%2Bdowntown%2BBrasov.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whimsical fountain downtown Brasov (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TBuQ4Z7Q7g/VYAOqWxTwKI/AAAAAAAAB2U/2f0yqEA_78o/s1600/Cetatea%2BRasnov%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TBuQ4Z7Q7g/VYAOqWxTwKI/AAAAAAAAB2U/2f0yqEA_78o/s320/Cetatea%2BRasnov%2Bview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rasnov Citadel (Photo: Ileana 2015) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The one location that attracts the most visitors about 10 miles past the Rasnov Citadel built by Teutonic knights in 1215 and past the National Park Piatra Craiului with its 7,000 foot peak, is the village of Bran with its famous Bran Castle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1O1Rfaxr58/VYALaww0pXI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/ziW_uCaFRw8/s1600/Bran%2BCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1O1Rfaxr58/VYALaww0pXI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/ziW_uCaFRw8/s320/Bran%2BCastle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bran Castle in the village of Bran (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bran’s Castle is known to westerners as Dracula’s Castle even though Voivode Vlad Tepes III’s connection to this castle was rather vague. He briefly captured the castle during a period in 1459 when he was arguing with the town’s merchants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bran’s ownership has been a struggle across the centuries. According to the National Geographic, the castle has been controlled from the late 15<sup>th</sup>century until 1920 by the Saxons of Brasov even though the Turks have assaulted it and their last failed attempt happened in 1787. In 1920 the city of Brasov gave the castle to the royal family. It was remodeled by Regina Maria who had electricity installed. “After years spent as a summer palace, a field hospital, and a communist-run museum, the castle now belongs to three members of the Habsburg family; the Brasov city council hopes to raise $78 million to buy it back.” (National Geographic Traveler, p. 148)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The adjacent Village Museum is an outdoor vivid lesson about the history and culture surrounding the castle and Brasov. This museum is located on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia (Muntenia). Looking up from the verdant yard below, the sheer walls of the castle with its ominous aura of impenetrable solid rock appearance, one can understand why Bran was a perfect location for a frontier garrison and customs post, documented as early as 1377.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The castle, which is located on a crag and appears impossible to destroy, is actually crumbling under its own weight. Engineers discovered in 1989 that the rocky cliff is crumbling. During the engineering exploratory digs, medieval wall frescoes have been found.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCYmkA590L0/VYAN_AOegCI/AAAAAAAAB2I/IKTMFOx9OJQ/s1600/grandma%2527s%2Biron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCYmkA590L0/VYAN_AOegCI/AAAAAAAAB2I/IKTMFOx9OJQ/s320/grandma%2527s%2Biron.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A handmade iron (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seven bastions and fragments of protective walls built by the Saxons in 1395 are still preserved today in Brasov. The circular bastion of the Weavers is the best preserved, built by the weaver’s guild in the 16<sup>th</sup> century. Life was organized around trade unions called guilds in medieval times. They kept their paperwork in beautifully carved wooden trunks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJNvI3znBg/VYALyRUYG2I/AAAAAAAAB1g/cTsKG0gksG4/s1600/Brasov%2Bview%2Bfrom%2BTampa%2BPeak%2B960%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJNvI3znBg/VYALyRUYG2I/AAAAAAAAB1g/cTsKG0gksG4/s320/Brasov%2Bview%2Bfrom%2BTampa%2BPeak%2B960%2Bm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brasov view from Tampa Peak, 960 m (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jmDoIHfsoU/VYAMI_npMkI/AAAAAAAAB1o/g0VBd74P66A/s1600/Church%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jmDoIHfsoU/VYAMI_npMkI/AAAAAAAAB1o/g0VBd74P66A/s320/Church%2Bin%2BBrasov.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An Orthodox church in Brasov at the foot of Cetatea (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sixteenth century fortress named Cetatea still stands today. A steep climb through a wooded area of Brasov or a leisurely drive rewards the visitor with a breathtaking view of the downtown center of Brasov, the pearl of Transylvania.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copyright: Ileana Johnson 2015&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/brasov-jewel-in-transylvanias-crown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-814182454967238978Sun, 14 Jun 2015 13:28:00 +00002015-06-14T06:28:57.900-07:00adverse health effectsGeorge H.W. Bushglobal wind dayMark DuchampscamU.N. Agenda 21U.N. Convention on Biological DiversityU.N. Framework on Climatewind turbinesWorld Council for Nature"Global Wind Scam Day"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdLpnyR--tw/VX2Bak9MWdI/AAAAAAAABz0/z_NbC8Kj0wE/s1600/Danish%2Bmink%2Bfarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdLpnyR--tw/VX2Bak9MWdI/AAAAAAAABz0/z_NbC8Kj0wE/s320/Danish%2Bmink%2Bfarm.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danish mink farm (Photo: WCN)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Touting the power of wind and “the possibilities to reshape our energy systems, decarbonize our economies and boost job growth,” the Global Wind Day is coordinated worldwide by the European Wind Energy Association, the Global Wind Energy Council, and various national associations. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solution Wind, a global awareness campaign is also publicizing the wind industry in advance of the COP21 (U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as “Paris 21”) climate negotiations in Paris, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>November 30-Decemmber 11, 2015. </span><a href="http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change was one of the three documents produced in 1992 at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>President George H.W. Bush signed the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate and U.N. Agenda 21 documents produced at this conference but refused to sign the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity document. </span></span><a href="http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having invested $100 billion in 2014, the wind lobby advertises wind energy as “mainstream and the fastest growing industrial sectors in the world.” Activities to convince the general public that wind energy is harmless include “family outings, wind farm visits and seminars with experts and leading industry figures.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Their website explains that “In the EU alone, the wind industry installed more than gas and coal combined last year with enough cumulative installed capacity to meet 10.2% of the region's electricity consumption, equivalent to powering 73 million households.” What about the other 90% of electricity needs? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.ewea.org/globalwindday/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.ewea.org/globalwindday/</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mark Duchamp, Chairman of the World Council for Nature has issued a press release in advance of the “wind lobby celebration of Global Wind Day” on June 15, 2015. “Hundreds of events are organized worldwide to convince people that wind farms are useful, cheap, harmless to birds and people, good for property values and great for tourism and the economy,” said Mr. Duchamp. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Calling this celebration a “global wind scam day,” Mr. Duchamp lists many economic problems and health issues associated with wind farms which have been operated on a worldwide scale since the 1980s. They provide unreliable and intermittent electricity at a cost that is “three times more expensive than that generated by conventional power.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He claims that the wind industry, heavily subsidized in all countries, finances political parties through kickbacks via a subsidy “revolving door.” The wind industry provides and guarantees profits to a new “class of green crony capitalists.” In his view, the wind turbine industry negatively affects the economy of some countries, facilitating the political takeover of “anti-establishment parties” such as “Podemos” (We Can) in Spain. Where have we heard that catch-phrase before?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Making references available to readers, Mr. Duchamp lists the unresolved economic and social issues associated with wind turbines:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">State and countries who rely on renewable energy become less competitive and poorer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wise investors prefer states where energy is cheaper<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Higher energy prices and taxation related to “green energy” cause companies to relocate abroad<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Higher renewable energy costs are subsidized by taxpayers and consumers, thus causing “fuel poverty” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deficits increase when subsidies and other bailouts finance “unprofitable and unreliable wind energy”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The unsightly wind turbines alter the landscape, destroy the “view shed” touted by environmentalists in this country, and depreciate the value of “heritage sites”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The huge turbine blades chop millions of birds and bats every year, including the majestic golden eagle in the U.S. and perhaps some endangered species<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Properties located near the turbines lose anywhere “from 10% to 50%” of their value<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just because a turbine spins, it does not necessarily produce energy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wind turbines must use electricity generated by “dirty” fossil fuels in order to be properly maintained and to prevent rusting of gears<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many turbines have been abandoned or shut down as requested by residents who could not stand the noise even after the community had invested millions in their installation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Frequently hit by lightning, turbines catch fire and threaten anyone nearby when the fire cannot be put out or the blades literally spin out of control<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Residents living in the vicinity of turbines are affected by “shadow flicker” during certain hours of the day and stressed out by the constant thump-thump noise coming from the wind turbine, especially at optimal operating wind speed - “allowed noise limits are frequently exceeded”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Residents and animals are negatively affected by infrasound emitted by turbines and exhibit disturbing behavior and serious negative health effects <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://wcfn.org/2015/06/04/global-wind-day-2/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://wcfn.org/2015/06/04/global-wind-day-2/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, Mr. Duchamp said, wind farm victims are ignored, accused of imagining their real health issues such as insomnia, headaches, nausea, tachycardia, disturbed menstrual cycles, loss of balance, genetic mutations during gestation, and other ailments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/global-wind-scam-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-6083889409511812814Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:57:00 +00002015-06-12T09:57:29.593-07:00Alba IuliabattlesBrasovBrukenthal MuseumCarpathian MountainsCluj-NapocaDaciansHungarian EmpireOttoman EmpireRomansSibiuSighisoaraTrajan's ColumnTransylvaniaVlad TepesWallachiaTransylvania, the Land of Enchantment<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ubuFubWg-qs/VXsJLo-po-I/AAAAAAAABwU/QhUMH5kYZsM/s1600/Cantacuzino%2Bcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ubuFubWg-qs/VXsJLo-po-I/AAAAAAAABwU/QhUMH5kYZsM/s320/Cantacuzino%2Bcastle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cantacuzino Castle (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Transylvania is a land of enchantment of middle and northern Romania with its breathtaking and spectacular landscapes, its rich and tumultuous history, bloody battles, occupations, and a proud population that maintains its distinct culture and art. <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is bordered on three sides by the Carpathian Mountains that appear on maps like a natural boundary between Transylvania and Wallachia, the province made famous by Vlad the Impaler, “Dracula,” Prince of Wallachia, who made Bucharest its capital in 1459. The pristine and wild countryside of Transylvania (Latin for “across the forest”) is sometimes impassable to humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Transylvania has a distinct Hungarian and German influence which can be seen in its fairy tale Hansel and Gretel architecture, its cuisine, the spotless streets, order and civility, in how successfully cities are run, and the seriousness on the faces of its population. However, many ethnic Germans have left in the 1970s when the communist Romanian state signed an agreement with West Germany.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romanian settlements dating back to the Iron Age were found in the southwestern part of Transylvania. Because the area has been part of the Hungarian and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire for hundreds of years, there is a strong Hungarian and German influence everywhere. Schools, colleges, and theaters are still operating in Hungarian and German languages. <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hungarian kings had invited Saxons (from the province of Sachsen) in the 12<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> and 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> centuries to settle in Transylvania. Some of them were gifted goldsmiths, others were wood carvers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and builders. Their presence is reflected in the beautiful medieval citadel churches built in southern Transylvania.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3z3K1JQXql4/VXsNhck1RUI/AAAAAAAABx8/wArkK_IqSpA/s1600/Bran%2BCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3z3K1JQXql4/VXsNhck1RUI/AAAAAAAABx8/wArkK_IqSpA/s320/Bran%2BCastle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bran Castle in Brasov (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hungarians and Germans left behind castles, imposing manors, palaces, and churches in towns such as Cluj-Napoca, Alba Iulia, Sighisoara, and in the old Saxon city of Sibiu (Hermannstadt) with its famous medieval houses with rooftop “eyes,” roof vents that look like watchful eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The miners and farmers in western Transylvania called “Moti” trace their roots for thousands of years. The Apuseni Mountains are rich in mineral reserves, rare metals, and gold, particularly in the contentious region of Rosia Montana. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The archeological evidence found at Sarmizegetusa speaks volumes of the rich civilization of the Dacians who were conquered by the Romans in 106 A.D. and colonized into a Roman Empire province. The story of the battles between the Romans and the Dacians is vividly told in the freezes of Trajan’s Column in Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to National Geographic , the eastern part of Transylvania has “the highest concentration of ethnic Hungarians.” Buildings have a different style, ethnic costumes vary, and many inhabitants speak both Romanian and Hungarian. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cluj-Napoca is “the cultural and economic hub of Transylvania.” Alba Iulia, the former Hungarian capital, has an interesting Habsburg baroque citadel. It was the city where Romania and Transylvania became one on the great Union Day, December 1, 1918.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bistrita, in the northern part, is the location where Bram Stoker set his novel “Dracula” in 1897. His fictional character, Jonathan Harker, spends the night in Bistritz (Bistrita) on his way to Tihuta Pass (Borgo Pass in Hungarian) where Voivode Vlad Tepes’ real castle ruins are located. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Bram Stoker never traveled to Romania; he used geographical information from his local library. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hFjxImZ3ag/VXsJnJHwnkI/AAAAAAAABwc/YeuUpBAqc6M/s1600/Sibiu%2Bhouse%2Bwith%2Beyes%2B14%2Bc..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hFjxImZ3ag/VXsJnJHwnkI/AAAAAAAABwc/YeuUpBAqc6M/s320/Sibiu%2Bhouse%2Bwith%2Beyes%2B14%2Bc..jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sibiu house with "eyes" (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sibiu is the largest medieval town in Romania, built in the 12<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century with three concentric fortified walls (a few have survived), squares (a large and a small one), stairways, and strongholds built and fortified between the 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> to the 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two famous battles of Sibiu on March 18 and March 25 1442 were fought nearby between the army of the Hungarian Empire and the army of the Ottoman Empire. Approximately 4,000 Hungarians and 15-20,000 Turks were killed in the two battles which resulted in a defeat and push back of the Ottomans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmArLf5d0nY/VXsKIBMT-aI/AAAAAAAABwk/cApZwtyOYxs/s1600/Tiny%2Brestaurant%2Bin%2BSibiu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmArLf5d0nY/VXsKIBMT-aI/AAAAAAAABwk/cApZwtyOYxs/s320/Tiny%2Brestaurant%2Bin%2BSibiu.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tiny restaurant in Sibiu (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Large Square (Piata Mare) served as a grain market in 1411, medieval executions, and later used for carnivals, meetings, and now rock concerts. The little restaurant called Butoiul de Aur (The Golden Barrel) has been serving patrons since the 15<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century. Houses dating back to the 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> and 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> centuries are the oldest surviving homes with colorful tiles, sometimes mosaic-ed in beautiful patterns and with “eyes” on the roof for air venting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />﻿<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyS7yw69SxI/VXsKdCoqigI/AAAAAAAABws/bxY-IHIOoJM/s1600/17%2Bcentury%2Biron%2Bpharmacy%2Bvial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyS7yw69SxI/VXsKdCoqigI/AAAAAAAABws/bxY-IHIOoJM/s320/17%2Bcentury%2Biron%2Bpharmacy%2Bvial.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17th century iron vial (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tiny four-room pharmacy museum, that used to be a 17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>century apothecary, displays curious instruments and recipes for potions perhaps made by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the father of homeopathy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vib9hj0mYbs/VXsK45iCIRI/AAAAAAAABw0/fNPH2RF2-to/s1600/Sibiu%2BCatholic%2BChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vib9hj0mYbs/VXsK45iCIRI/AAAAAAAABw0/fNPH2RF2-to/s320/Sibiu%2BCatholic%2BChurch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sibiu Church (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The largest Catholic Church in Sibiu stands majestically between Piata Mica (Little Square) and Piata Mare (Large Square). Interestingly, on the day I visited, it was displaying a large banner at the back entrance urging people to stop fracking for natural gas and to stop mining in Rosia Montana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Since the Pope is now a climate change expert and population control expert, why not turn the church into an environmentalist NGO? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gw9dQWnBkA8/VXsLIc_Ii5I/AAAAAAAABw8/fZp8AMTM6FM/s1600/Brukenthal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gw9dQWnBkA8/VXsLIc_Ii5I/AAAAAAAABw8/fZp8AMTM6FM/s320/Brukenthal.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brukenthal Museum courtyard (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1I-1qo7OME/VXsOpXpC-JI/AAAAAAAAByM/zdCGMCMy6hs/s1600/Brukenthal%2Binterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1I-1qo7OME/VXsOpXpC-JI/AAAAAAAAByM/zdCGMCMy6hs/s320/Brukenthal%2Binterior.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brukenthal steam porcelain stove (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luB7YEWrh9I/VXsO2li2Y4I/AAAAAAAAByU/4f32QwviJuc/s1600/Roman%2Bvotiv%2Bmarker%2Bat%2BBrukenthal%2Blapidarium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luB7YEWrh9I/VXsO2li2Y4I/AAAAAAAAByU/4f32QwviJuc/s320/Roman%2Bvotiv%2Bmarker%2Bat%2BBrukenthal%2Blapidarium.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brukenthal Roman lapidarium (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3V_Tu50PNc/VXsPTDog8HI/AAAAAAAAByc/xdjrQME5sjY/s1600/Medieval%2Bdoor%2Bin%2BSibiu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3V_Tu50PNc/VXsPTDog8HI/AAAAAAAAByc/xdjrQME5sjY/s320/Medieval%2Bdoor%2Bin%2BSibiu.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Medieval door (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The National Brukenthal Museum is a treasure trove of art collections which Baron Samuel Von Brukenthal, the former Governor of Transylvania (1777-1787), housed in his Palace built in the Grand Square in Sibiu. Showcased in the baroque and rococo interiors are famous masters like Jan van Eyck from 1420, German and Austrian painters, Romanian painters, personal favorites like Teodor Aman and Nicolae Grigorescu, gold and silver coins, jewels, engravings, intricately carved furniture, books, weapons, silver and gold drinking cups and goblets, medals displayed in his former library, sculptures, costumes of the era, whimsical porcelain steam stoves interconnected throughout the palace, a novelty for that period,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>a lapidarium with statues of Roman gods, Roman roads mile markers, and votive altars from Apulum and Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, dating to the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> and 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> centuries A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD2W0kZzNl8/VXsLvG1PVeI/AAAAAAAABxM/KaOPc1jqM-4/s1600/ASTRA%2Bbarn%2Bwith%2Bcarriages.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD2W0kZzNl8/VXsLvG1PVeI/AAAAAAAABxM/KaOPc1jqM-4/s320/ASTRA%2Bbarn%2Bwith%2Bcarriages.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ASTRA barn with carriages (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40R6AmtJIRE/VXsL9a2Fg0I/AAAAAAAABxU/4JHaTNp-dJw/s1600/Interior%2Bof%2Bfloating%2Bmill%2Bat%2BASTRA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40R6AmtJIRE/VXsL9a2Fg0I/AAAAAAAABxU/4JHaTNp-dJw/s320/Interior%2Bof%2Bfloating%2Bmill%2Bat%2BASTRA.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Interior of a floating mill at ASTRA&nbsp;(photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four miles south of Sibiu, in the forest of Dumbrava, we found the largest Museum of Popular Traditional Civilization ASTRA in the country. Spread on 237 acres of rolling hills and lakes, it is the largest museum in Europe that showcases homes from different parts of the country, windmills, boats, barns with complete carriages, and many implements and tools necessary for everyday living. Each home is surrounded by a typical yard with ploughs, carts, barns, and interiors are decorated just like people were still living there and have left for the day to tend to the gardens or crops. The smell of old wood, mildew, wildflowers, and crushed fruits was overwhelming. A slow-moving red fox, accustomed to human presence, crossed the nearby yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreRh1Zuxr0/VXsMKuZomKI/AAAAAAAABxc/kBDxBAlTsvk/s1600/ASTRA%2Bhome%2Binterior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreRh1Zuxr0/VXsMKuZomKI/AAAAAAAABxc/kBDxBAlTsvk/s320/ASTRA%2Bhome%2Binterior.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ASTRA home interior (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoppazpN2Zg/VXsNBf40WqI/AAAAAAAABxs/SDTgI9lit_o/s1600/Stefan%2Bat%2BAstra.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoppazpN2Zg/VXsNBf40WqI/AAAAAAAABxs/SDTgI9lit_o/s320/Stefan%2Bat%2BAstra.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ASTRA home interior (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The outdoor ASTRA museum is so hugely popular that locals use it for recreation, boating, and celebration of major life events. On the day we visited, there were three weddings at the wooden chapel and brides and their entourage were taking photos on the premises. I was fascinated by the various windmills displayed, and particularly a floating mill that used hydropower to grind grain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the workshops manufacturing silk and hemp, distilleries, forges, wine presses, paddle-wheel ferry, the blacksmith’s shop, and other machinery used by Romania’s country folk were actually in working order. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is only fitting that this huge outdoor museum with its well-preserved history is called ASTRA. ASTRA was a patriotic literary society of the 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century, located in Sibiu, which was instrumental in Transylvania’s unification with Romania in 1918.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To the east of Transylvania is the famous Seckler Land. The Secklers are Hungarian-speaking people which are called “secui” in Romanian. They use their own language, have fascinating traditions, customs, delicious cuisine, and schools. No industrial development has touched this plateau where old farming methods are still used today to cultivate the land. It is a land where Hungarians have migrated to in the 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century from the Don River. The Hungarians were given land in exchange for the promise that they would protect the western Hungarian border against the invading hordes of Turkish tribes. There is a Crusader’s cross decorating a church in Tusnad as evidence of Christian support against the invading Muslims. Signs abound both in Magyar (the Hungarian language) and Romanian language.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Hungarian king Endre II brought in the Teutonic Knights in 1211 to protect the southeast border of Transylvania from the Cumans, a migratory Turkic tribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was these knights who built stone castles all over the area surrounding Brasov.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>According to National Geographic, because the Teutonic Knights liked this magnificent area called Barsa Land and were going to claim it for the Pope, King Endre II forced them out in 1225 with Saxon help.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn6YEdenq1I/VXsOIZ_ql0I/AAAAAAAAByE/Ybjyra8Elo0/s1600/Brasov%2Bdowntown%2Bpost%2Boffice%2Band%2Bprefect%2527s%2Boffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn6YEdenq1I/VXsOIZ_ql0I/AAAAAAAAByE/Ybjyra8Elo0/s320/Brasov%2Bdowntown%2Bpost%2Boffice%2Band%2Bprefect%2527s%2Boffice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brasov (photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The jewel of Transylvania is Brasov (Kronstadt). There are so many significant places in Brasov <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>and its vicinity that it merits a story onto itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/transylvania-land-of-enchantment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-5139603533333390421Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:45:00 +00002015-06-09T05:52:25.683-07:00anti-communism victimsCetatea Fagarasuluicommunist regimeFagaras Fortressjailmedieval fortressmoatrepressionrich historyswansTara Fagarasuluitorture chamberTransylvaniaCetatea Fagarasului and Communist Punishment<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WQKom2iCju0/VXbayNQZvtI/AAAAAAAABt4/z-rNfcJWXGM/s1600/Cetatea%2BFagarasului1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WQKom2iCju0/VXbayNQZvtI/AAAAAAAABt4/z-rNfcJWXGM/s320/Cetatea%2BFagarasului1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cetatea Fagarasului entrance (Photo: Ileana 2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We found Cetatea Fagarasului half-way between Brasov and Sibiu, an hour drive off the beaten path for foreign tourists. I would venture to say that we were the only overseas visitors on that drizzly morning. The fortress was surrounded by a fosse populated by black and white swans, perfect sentries for a castle that was often under Ottoman siege. Weeping willows lined the street leading to the entrance.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought we were going to see a 14<sup>th</sup> century fortress but I discovered one of the many prisons Ceausescu had used around the country to punish those who disagreed with his regime and dared to protest his reign of terror.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fagaras Fortress was built between the 14<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup> centuries. The fortress was preceded by a wooden fortification and earthen wall dating from the 12<sup>th</sup> century. In the 16<sup>th</sup> century the fortress was transformed into a castle. Gabriel Rakosi I and Gabriel Bethlen, Transylvanian princes, decorated it according to Renaissance models in the 17<sup>th</sup>century.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGIUBl8hQmc/VXbbImme54I/AAAAAAAABuA/0AEJcZEFO28/s1600/moat%2Bwith%2BSwans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGIUBl8hQmc/VXbbImme54I/AAAAAAAABuA/0AEJcZEFO28/s320/moat%2Bwith%2BSwans.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moat with Swans (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Fagaras Fortress, surrounded by a two-meter deep water moat (“fosse” in Old English) fed through a channel from the Olt River (since 1676 from “Superior lake”), was so impenetrable that, although attacked countless times, it was never conquered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_NLT9BAqH4/VXbbjxlSm1I/AAAAAAAABuI/Yyk8uYbFxZU/s1600/Scaffold%2Bin%2BFagaras%2BCitadel%2Bwith%2BStefan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_NLT9BAqH4/VXbbjxlSm1I/AAAAAAAABuI/Yyk8uYbFxZU/s320/Scaffold%2Bin%2BFagaras%2BCitadel%2Bwith%2BStefan.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scaffold (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The now green exterior courtyard had a medieval scaffold, which had been used for the last time in the 1970s. There was a carriage and a blacksmith’s shop with iron tools and bellows. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Access to the castle was made through two bridges (one pedestrian) and three consecutive lifting gates. On the northern side, built on wooden pillars, there were two powder houses (1667-1676). A boat and six swans were mentioned in 1656. Surviving on daily ration of rye bread, the swans multiplied to nine and four chicks by 1676. During our visit I saw two pairs of swans, a black and a white one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_auMziJnP4/VXbb96ndGEI/AAAAAAAABuQ/PufkCiMi9ek/s1600/Fagaras%2Binner%2Bcourtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_auMziJnP4/VXbb96ndGEI/AAAAAAAABuQ/PufkCiMi9ek/s320/Fagaras%2Binner%2Bcourtyard.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the many inner courtyards (Photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The museum archives described how one Turkish historian, geographer, and traveler, Elvia Celebi, who crisscrossed the Ottoman Empire for 40 years, actually participated in the siege of Fagaras Fortress in 1661. He wrote that the Turks led by Ali Pasha, after setting fire to the citadel, were met with resistance from many soldiers and inhabitants gathered from the surrounding area. The Ottomans had to withdraw after 14 days of siege.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gabriel Bethlen had a Hussars’ fortress built in 1623 in the northern part of the fortress, by the moat. The Ottoman sieges must have destroyed the Hussars’ fortress because it was never mentioned in any records or inventories after 1676. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqxFocG73r4/VXbcaxoUm9I/AAAAAAAABuY/tgb_m1hbD2o/s1600/Inner%2Bcourtyards%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bprison%2BCetatea%2BFagarasului.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqxFocG73r4/VXbcaxoUm9I/AAAAAAAABuY/tgb_m1hbD2o/s320/Inner%2Bcourtyards%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bprison%2BCetatea%2BFagarasului.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inner courtyard of the communist prison (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to museum archives, “After 1696, the fortress became a garrison for the Austrian army, then for the Magyar army, and after that for the Romanian army. Between 1948 and 1960 the fortress was a communist prison.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgWqRumHMWw/VXbcvXPzkHI/AAAAAAAABug/Lz5yW9bCkTc/s1600/torture%2Bcell%2Bwith%2Btools.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgWqRumHMWw/VXbcvXPzkHI/AAAAAAAABug/Lz5yW9bCkTc/s320/torture%2Bcell%2Bwith%2Btools.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Torture cell with tools (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the base of the Prison Tower was the jailer’s house. Records in 1632 mentioned 12 leg cuffs, 14 handcuffs, a tree trunk, an axe, leg iron weights, and a hangman’s broadsword. Under the jailer Ambrus Janos the inventory of his torture chamber swelled to 54 pairs of leg chains. By 1676, there were three dungeons in existence. One of the castle towers housed an Iron Maiden, a particularly cruel form of punishment. The unfortunate human was trapped inside an iron suit fitted with spikes which pierced his body, avoiding vital organs, but allowing for a slow and agonizingly painful death through blood loss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dgk1YlbOoMA/VXbdCPkLTfI/AAAAAAAABuo/ZQl9i3tYl18/s1600/prison%2Btower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dgk1YlbOoMA/VXbdCPkLTfI/AAAAAAAABuo/ZQl9i3tYl18/s320/prison%2Btower.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prison tower (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cells, where anti-communist fighters from Fagaras Mountains and other parts of the country were held between 1948-1960 when the fortress was a prison, were cold and dark. The treatment of political prisoners was beyond brutal. National Geographic mentioned that “During the brief moments when their cell doors were opened, they scratched messages on the walls” which are still visible today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0DQJj3tSMJA/VXbdQztEpGI/AAAAAAAABuw/cw1tCBuBGyQ/s1600/The%2Bfaces%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bvictims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0DQJj3tSMJA/VXbdQztEpGI/AAAAAAAABuw/cw1tCBuBGyQ/s320/The%2Bfaces%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bvictims.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Faces of some of the victims (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The museum exhibited photographs of those imprisoned and killed, original 1960 documents of peasants’ obligations to turn in a quota of everything they produced or grew, documents of rationed consumption, rationing of clothing and shoes, rationing of consumption of meat permitted only on Saturday and Sunday for a total of 250 grams weekly, with a supplement for those who actually worked in a factory, and the empty promise that bath soap and powdered detergent would be distributed soon. This rang similar to the current rationed consumption and dire economic situation in Venezuela where Hugo Chavez’s socialism has destroyed the once self-sufficient economy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIzkArWwk_U/VXbdjFMHLxI/AAAAAAAABu4/CuMIAyPvIlc/s1600/jail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIzkArWwk_U/VXbdjFMHLxI/AAAAAAAABu4/CuMIAyPvIlc/s320/jail.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Passage to one of the jails (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before the socialists took complete control of the country, the Directive NKVD 2-6 of 1947 made sure that any farm would be unprofitable to farm or rent to farm in order to facilitate collectivization. If the peasants offered more resistance to collectivization, they were to be forced to turn over to the communist party a higher quota of what they produced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A poster from that era stated, “Long live the Soviet Union, the liberator of the Romanian people.” The Soviets actually destroyed every freedom and the wealth and comfort that the Romanian people formerly enjoyed under the monarchy and imprisoned them into a terrifying concentration camp unlike any other for 41 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let us promise anything asked of us, but, when the moment will come, let us remember that the communist honor is to not fulfill these promises,” said V.I. Lenin in his “Empty words about freedom.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The massive propaganda was directed from Moscow because the Romanian commies did not have experience yet. Under their guidance, the Romanian Communist Party started a campaign of constant agitation and mobilization of the population, and non-stop manufactured crises. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The “enemies of the people” were identified during public meetings, press releases, and public trials. Dailies, magazines, newspapers, posters, journals, brochures, and pamphlets continued the indoctrination. An entire army of community organizers were released to agitate the masses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A massive campaign to destroy the national memory, to falsify the past, and to rewrite history and the present began. The press pushed communist utopia non-stop. “The political police, under Soviet control, began a societal surveillance by agents and informers,” according to museum archives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQbIthlWbTU/VXbeWk_PFUI/AAAAAAAABvI/rAoEMFgWV-o/s1600/anti-communist%2Bmonument%2Bin%2BTara%2BFagarasului.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQbIthlWbTU/VXbeWk_PFUI/AAAAAAAABvI/rAoEMFgWV-o/s320/anti-communist%2Bmonument%2Bin%2BTara%2BFagarasului.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monument dedicated to anti-communism fighters (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once the urban population and the elites were subjugated, next came the peasants’ turn; they had been pretty much left alone until 1949. The commies made the peasants’ livelihood very difficult by forcing them into obligatory back breaking quotas and by controlling their commerce with agricultural products. The communists eventually destroyed the peasants’ individual property rights. Small farmers were constantly demonized, beaten, threatened, tortured, and imprisoned until they relented to become part of the communist collectivization agricultural machine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Tara Fagarasului which is the larger area surrounding this fortress prison in Cetatea Fagarasului, the social order was totally and systematically destroyed. Eighty percent of the population was considered well-off farmers, wealthy farmers, and middle peasants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>More than 1,000 locals suffered in forced labor camps, were deported to communist prisons around the country, and thousands of family members were discriminated and maligned socially and economically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wealthy farmer was labeled “chiabur,” from the Turkish word “kibar,” meaning “a good steward.” The farmers were demonized and the word “chiabur” was successfully used by communists as a label to justify repression against private land owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The manufactured word “chiabur” was not unlike the bogus term of “white privilege” being floated by the main stream media and academia in our own country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first communist president, Gheorge Gheorghiu-Dej, was advising the apparatchiks involved in the land confiscation, that they should confiscate land in such a way that it did not look like nationalization, but at the same time, they should not leave the land owners much, “just enough to buy a cigarette,” and to pay them for their tractors scrap metal prices. “For better combines that do not need much repair, we should pay them 5 percent more.” (Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej speech on March 26, 1959)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gheorghiu-Dej continued, “If a rich landowner protested, he can be shot on the spot, to let all know who would dare not to turn in their quotas what will befall them.” (Instructions to all member of Securitate, 1948)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still remember, as a child, being forced to wait in long lines with my parents to view this man’s body in state when he passed away. The entire country was supposed to mourn his passing even though they hated his guts for what he had done to the country.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To justify the existence and establishment of the terror state, enemies had to be found. If none were found, enemies had to be invented, said one of the Soviet community organizers and agitators, Tzvetan Todorov. In 1951 forced deportations spread ethnic Swabians and Romanians around the country, especially those who opposed the regime and collectivization. Many were sent south in Baragan and Basarabians were deported to Fagaras. But an armed resistance developed in the Fagaras Mountains in Transylvania.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As part of the same Directive, NKVD 2-6 of 1947, all parties had to be unified under one party, making sure that all key positions would be occupied by the secret (Soviet) services.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mWMvigzLZc/VXbeqc118ZI/AAAAAAAABvQ/0ftLwobYeqc/s1600/Weeping%2Bwillows%2Band%2Bthe%2Bentrance%2Bto%2BCetatea%2BFagarasului.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mWMvigzLZc/VXbeqc118ZI/AAAAAAAABvQ/0ftLwobYeqc/s320/Weeping%2Bwillows%2Band%2Bthe%2Bentrance%2Bto%2BCetatea%2BFagarasului.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weeping willows, a fitting tribute to those who died (photo: Ileana 2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cetates Fagarasului, the medieval fortress, saw the incarceration between September 1950-April 1960 of over 4,000 former employees from the Information Services, State Security, military judges, policemen, diplomats, and those who helped the anti-communism fighters. Prisoners were jailed without due process and without sentencing. Because of the harsh and inhuman imprisonment conditions, 166 generals, officers, clerks, workers, and peasants died there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I dug up a tiny rock from the inner courtyard for my friend who collects stones from different parts of the world. I washed it carefully before packing it, wondering how much blood of innocents tortured or killed in battle or in prison had washed over these rocks over the centuries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/cetatea-fagarasului-and-communist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-360051490180246415Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:25:00 +00002015-06-08T05:47:45.860-07:00BrasovCetatea RasnovDaciansfortressGothic churchesHarmanOttoman EmpirePrejmer citadelRoman EmpirePrejmer Citadel and Cetatea Rasnov<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btJTn5BW2Zo/VXWGZXHUwSI/AAAAAAAABsk/DmIqDAoE6D0/s1600/Prejmer%2Btower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btJTn5BW2Zo/VXWGZXHUwSI/AAAAAAAABsk/DmIqDAoE6D0/s320/Prejmer%2Btower.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prejmer Citadel walls<br />Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leaving our hotel in Brasov and barely avoiding two collisions from impertinent drivers who seem to be in so much hurry that they triple and quadruple pass other vehicles close to dangerous curves and impassable hills, we made our way a few kilometers north to the neighboring Saxon villages of Prejmer and Harman.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to National Geographic Traveler, the villagers who emigrated to German-speaking countries have abandoned their terra-cotta tile homes built very close to the road and gypsies have moved in (p. 146). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Harman’s Citadel has four turrets which indicated that “the people of Harman had the right to pass the death sentence.” The 12 meter tall walls were built in the 15<sup>th</sup>century to protect the citizens from the many outside invaders, eager for loot and tribute. A 12<sup>th</sup> century Gothic church with a 13<sup>th</sup>century funerary chapel are enclosed within the citadel rock walls. The chapel contains fragments of Gothic frescoes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84V1uRDxE5k/VXWG5BKBTII/AAAAAAAABs0/eJwZDBBtCzw/s1600/Prejmer%2BCitadel%2Binner%2Bwalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84V1uRDxE5k/VXWG5BKBTII/AAAAAAAABs0/eJwZDBBtCzw/s320/Prejmer%2BCitadel%2Binner%2Bwalls.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prejmer Citadel Inner Walls<br />Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prejmer’s Citadel walls, built between 15th&nbsp;and 18<sup>th</sup> centuries, protected inhabitants from constant siege coming from Austrians, Tatars, Turks, and other neighboring provinces. The inside walls had 272 rooms on four levels, refectories, a school, and galleries to accommodate the entire community during an attack. A circular passageway connected the top level. The middle courtyard was dominated by a Gothic place of worship built in the Rhineland church style. The Citadel had an exterior portal, a 17<sup>th</sup> century wall, the original 15the century defensive wall, and a 19<sup>th</sup> century wall extension and entrance passageway with a dropping gate with sharp wooden spikes that could impale someone unfortunate enough to be in the way when the gate dropped. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pigeons, lilacs, and blossoming trees were shading the courtyard between the Gothic church and the sleeping quarters accessed by steep and dangerous wooden stairs, not for the faint of heart or wobbly jointed. I could not climb all the way to the top where the very thick rocky retaining walls and ramparts were slightly separated six feet from the residential part of the structure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlLQuxZRWkI/VXWIeljcavI/AAAAAAAABtU/khE69_NzWVA/s1600/Prejmer%2Bcitadel%2Bentrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlLQuxZRWkI/VXWIeljcavI/AAAAAAAABtU/khE69_NzWVA/s320/Prejmer%2Bcitadel%2Bentrance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prejmer Citadel 19th century entrance Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVEEG3ngY7Y/VXWH0Yp1OLI/AAAAAAAABtM/hA0NJ401sgE/s1600/Prejmer%2Btools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVEEG3ngY7Y/VXWH0Yp1OLI/AAAAAAAABtM/hA0NJ401sgE/s320/Prejmer%2Btools.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prejmer citadel tools Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the Citadel of Prejmer was under attack or times were dangerous, the local population took refuge inside the fortress. According to museum archives, an old school functioned here, with its first teachers mentioned in 1460 and then in 1556. The surviving classroom decorated with frescoes from the 18<sup>th</sup>century was used as late as 1853 when a new school was built in the village of Prejmer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm71DhTVeAE/VXWI9pcbdnI/AAAAAAAABtk/tr5I4QPTG-o/s1600/Prejmer%2BLutheran%2Bchurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm71DhTVeAE/VXWI9pcbdnI/AAAAAAAABtk/tr5I4QPTG-o/s320/Prejmer%2BLutheran%2Bchurch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inner Gothic church Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM3rjgiC6qM/VXWIxvKbg6I/AAAAAAAABtc/_tcDt_HeqOw/s1600/Prejmer%2Bchurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM3rjgiC6qM/VXWIxvKbg6I/AAAAAAAABtc/_tcDt_HeqOw/s320/Prejmer%2Bchurch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prejmer Gothic Church Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW6ktD7DYSs/VXWGtab0jLI/AAAAAAAABsw/UW9rpZTGCsQ/s1600/Prejmer%2Boriginal%2Bgate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW6ktD7DYSs/VXWGtab0jLI/AAAAAAAABsw/UW9rpZTGCsQ/s320/Prejmer%2Boriginal%2Bgate.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prejmer Gate Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One hundred-year old trees and purple lilacs bloomed in the courtyard, overwhelmed by the strong scent of mold and old, dry wood. The green grass made a lovely contrast with the dark and foreboding sleeping quarters now painted white, with black stained beams. Centuries ago, this citadel must have been an island of peace and protection from the constant Ottoman Empire attacks which continued for hundreds of years. Every time they were pushed back, they returned with a vengeance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyoZG6Tn4QU/VXWHSSRWS2I/AAAAAAAABs8/mKg_3nWrHaI/s1600/Prejmer%2Bresidences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyoZG6Tn4QU/VXWHSSRWS2I/AAAAAAAABs8/mKg_3nWrHaI/s320/Prejmer%2Bresidences.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prejmer residences Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ten miles from Brasov, after a pleasant drive through valleys flanked by blue mountains and lush green meadows with billowing in the wind tall grasses, wheat, and wild flowers, we found the city of Rasnov with its Citadel built by Teutonic knights in 1215. The fortress is perched on a rock about 400 feet above town. Because its location is difficult to access, the medieval castle was only conquered once in 1612 by Gabriel Bathory. The observation tower, which can be reached by steep, creaking, and difficult to climb up or down stairs, gives a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Carpathian Mountains. The movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cold Mountain</i> was filmed not far from here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1vw0H0pV8c/VXWHi4SWehI/AAAAAAAABtE/PVP0jE-N8Dg/s1600/rasnov%2Bcitadel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1vw0H0pV8c/VXWHi4SWehI/AAAAAAAABtE/PVP0jE-N8Dg/s320/rasnov%2Bcitadel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rasnov Citadel Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Archeological digs found evidence of a fortified Dacian settlement during the first century B.C. and first century A.D. named Cumidava/Comidava.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Earthen moats, ditches dug around the rocky peaks, and wooden palisades protected the population from the numerous invasions. Parts of the fortification are still standing on the north side and in the surrounding forest. Houses, some carved in stone, were located inside the fortifications. Buried Items who were unearthed suggest a prosperous settlement with trade relations. When the Dacians were conquered by the Romans, a new Roman castrum was built on Ghimbasel Valley, bearing the same name, Cumidava/Comidava.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three buses of American soldiers were visiting the fortress that day, climbing to the citadel on foot, while children and less physically-abled adults were ferried up by a tractor pulling a train of sorts. Humidity was low, the sun was shining, the temperature was a balmy 72, and the rocky remains of the former castle were buffeted by strong winds. A Romanian flag was proudly displayed on the highest peak of the castle. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A resident cat disappeared below a big drop through an open window, as if jumping to her death. We found her later at the entrance, safe and sound, eating a treat dropped by one of the American soldiers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have met several Americans the night before, dining in an outdoor pizzeria near the Black Church in Brasov. Some of these young men, part of the “show of force” exercise in Romania which ended in Brasov, were happy to be off and around so many beautiful young Romanian girls. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple of soldiers were now interviewed by a young Digi-24 crew about their stay in Brasov. Romanians at large were buzzing with fear in cafes and on the Internet that the Americans have come to occupy them, albeit it too late, one older man joked. “We could have used American help during WWII,” he said. We certainly did not need the Soviets, he added with sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bought two walking canes; besides an interesting display in the office, the canes were quite handy for climbing or steadying when walking on cobble stones or rocky terrain. And this fortress is difficult enough because it was dug into the Carpathian Mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Carpathian Mountains chain covers about one third of Romania and once formed Europe’s largest volcanic link. There is only one extinct crater left with its volcanic lake Sf. Ana north of Brasov. The U-shaped mountain chain runs from the northwest to the southwest of Romania.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drive back took us through the Poiana Soarelui Street, a road winding up with constant hair pin curves and dizzying drops until we reached Poiana Brasov, a popular tourist destination in summer time for outdoor recreation and horseback riding, and a fabulous ski resort in wintertime.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copyright: Ileana Johnson 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/prejmer-citadel-and-cetatea-rasnov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-4395316336842090933Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:22:00 +00002015-06-05T06:53:06.719-07:00BrasovCeausescucommunismDr. Ilie SerbanescuEUHeroes DayLiviu BabesMay 21Mircea BrenciupovertyRevolutionRosia MontanaThe Rally That Changed History<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Snuom_YrVyA/VXBrOOGv9QI/AAAAAAAABrU/bGrwhfP5JvQ/s1600/Rally%2B2%2B5-21-15%2BBrasov.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Snuom_YrVyA/VXBrOOGv9QI/AAAAAAAABrU/bGrwhfP5JvQ/s320/Rally%2B2%2B5-21-15%2BBrasov.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rally in Brasov Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a beautiful sunny morning, May 21, 2015 when the Orthodox celebrated Ascension Day and Sf. Elena, we walked in the beautiful park downtown Brasov set at the foot of Timpa Peak, where a crowd had gathered in front of a large cross and several tombs of the young men and women killed on December 22-26, 1989, during the Revolution that toppled Ceausescu’s brutal communist regime. Some of them came to a rally and some were simply walking through the park.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shots rang out from many directions, mowing down those unfortunate enough to be in the path of the stray bullets. As many as 46 people were shot within ninety minutes. Two large flower wreaths were placed in front of the cross in their eternal memory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />﻿<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad9OxlFIAWQ/VXBseoGSIoI/AAAAAAAABrs/HxIBAxwQXb4/s1600/Heroes%2BCross%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad9OxlFIAWQ/VXBseoGSIoI/AAAAAAAABrs/HxIBAxwQXb4/s320/Heroes%2BCross%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heroes Day May 21, 2015<br />Photo: Ileana Johnson</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I interviewed Mircea Brenciu, member of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uniunea Scriitorilor din Romania</i></b>(Writers’ Union) and spokesperson for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Asociatia Revolutionarilor</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">din Brasov</i></b> (Association of Revolutionaries from Brasov). Brenciu gave a fiery speech to the crowd of mostly middle-aged men who had gathered on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ziua Eroilor</i></b> (Heros’ Day) to pay respects to those who died for freedom, freedom that had been squashed in Romania during more than four decades of communist terror.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XRqqpRL-c5k/VXBrpQODCtI/AAAAAAAABrc/gejtXTmFZ9I/s1600/Fallen%2Bheroes%2BBrasov%2B12-22-1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XRqqpRL-c5k/VXBrpQODCtI/AAAAAAAABrc/gejtXTmFZ9I/s320/Fallen%2Bheroes%2BBrasov%2B12-22-1989.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallen Heroes<br />Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Association of Revolutionaries had asked City Hall repeatedly for a monument to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in December 1989 in this park and elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A monument is needed, Brenciu said, to commemorate not just those who died but those who have survived “an event that represents the most important moment in the contemporary history of Romania” – the defeat of Ceausescu’s communist tyranny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This often-requested monument has been refused by officials under various explanations. Brenciu believes that these politicians who run the country have no gratitude and deny recent history. “Full of hypocrisy,” Brenciu said, “they come to place a wreath, pretending to care, and in the next second, they forget everything.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his opinion, disrespecting history is one of the many reasons that have determined the miserable state in life of Romanian citizens in general. Conditions have improved, he said, Romanians can go abroad to work, they can speak freely, they can travel, they can curse the regime freely, but nobody is listening, Brenciu added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prices rose to the European Union levels since 2007 but salaries are still “10-15 times smaller.” Austerity measures imposed by the EU have compounded the problem. “How can a Romanian citizen survive under these conditions,” he asked. We have become the beggars of the European Union even though our country is very wealthy in natural resources that have been sold out to foreign investors to benefit the ruling elite class while Romanians struggle to make ends meet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Poverty is glaring, nobody has any money. Doctors ask for bribe money (even though the medical system is socialized and generally free), officials ask for bribe money, food is extremely expensive, how can one live in a country that freed itself from communism? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most people are still afraid to go to the doctor even for simple operations. Many good doctors have fled to the west for better pay and working conditions and, for a while, young people chose other fields of study. Who wanted to work so hard to become a doctor when they made the same paltry salaries like everybody else? I asked about the average college graduate pay and I was shocked at the answer, $300 per month. And unskilled workers in America demand an economically impossible living wage of $15-20 an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romanians have told me that dental care is very expensive and the quality of work lacks a lot to be desired. Few acquire the expert training of dentists in the U.S. Socialized medicine is a disaster, slightly better than during Ceausescu’s regime. Retirees are compensated at the 50 percent rate for the first three prescriptions; after that, they must pay full price for any additional drugs they need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Forgetting and rewriting history is not occurring just in Romania, it is a wave happening around the globe, a groundswell of global revisionist curricular history smacking of communist indoctrination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Globalism is a form of anti-nationalism, with the idea of forming a unique global state, a utopia that begs the question, who is going to run this global state, who is going to establish the rule of law, what is going to happen to the principles of democracy? As long as there are nations, there is equilibrium and respect between countries, a tradition and history that balance out a social equilibrium. European Union is a first step of this globalization. Why is the EU abandoning us while exploiting the country for everything possible for their personal gain,“ asked Brenciu pointedly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brenciu described how the technocrats in Brussels lured Romania into the EU like the Conquistadors lured Indians with cheap beads and mirrors. “They are taking everything and we are applauding - so great that we are Europeans now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brenciu talked about Rosia Montana mine exploration in the Apuseni Mountains of Western Transylvania, which is currently blocked, and its vast reserves of gold, rare earth minerals, and rare metals such as wolfram (tungsten), vanadium, nickel, manganese, which are more valuable than gold. Gabriel Resources of Canada is planning to reopen the currently blocked gold mine which has been closed since 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why should Romanians not exploit their own resources? In this fight, Brenciu said, we are going to lose because we have traitorous politicians.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brenciu alleged that over $120 billion have been stolen since the fall of communism, enough to bring Romania to an economic development on par with the EU countries. This calculation, Brenciu stated, was based on Dr. Ilie Serbanescu’s opinion as an economist, academician, and Former Minister of Reform. The money that was stolen is now in foreign accounts, Brenciu said, while the country survives in dire economic needs. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Serbanescu explained in a TV appearance that EU is a colonial system that facilitated the control of Romanian natural resources (gold, silver, rare metals, minerals), the distribution of energy (gas, oil, electricity), and banking. Globalists challenged his views as nationalist. It is a no-brainer that none of the EU members were able to control their monetary policy once they accepted the euro as a national currency.</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JnVK5vg9DM"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JnVK5vg9DM</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I was personally shot at,” Brenciu said, but I was lucky to escape, “I ducked into the post office building nearby. Nobody knew who was shooting, we personally caught one guy who spoke no Romanian and we turned him over to the officials and I think they released him. He was wearing dark coveralls over his street clothes, had shiny eyes like a person on drugs, and was armed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was carnage, people were mowed down, and there was blood everywhere and screams of pain coming from the injured.” It is inconceivable to be the mayor of this town that has sacrificed so much for the Revolution and to refuse a monument to commemorate this profound event, I do not and cannot understand,” Brenciu added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On November 15, 1987, in this same park, workers came out of factories to protest and took down Ceausescu’s “Dear Leader” portrait from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cladirea Prefecturii</i> (the Prefect’s Building). Everybody was of course arrested and their fate unknown since they were dispersed around the country and held in the many political jails Ceausescu had built or opened. I discovered one such jail at Cetatea Fagarasului, located in a 15<sup>th</sup> century fortress, cold, damp, and mildewed from standing water in the basement. The solid rock construction made the interior considerably colder than the exterior.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CjCJsFmcJ18/VXBsFTX4r6I/AAAAAAAABrk/o_neQvlZQxM/s1600/Liviu%2BBabes%2Bmemorial%2BPoiana%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CjCJsFmcJ18/VXBsFTX4r6I/AAAAAAAABrk/o_neQvlZQxM/s320/Liviu%2BBabes%2Bmemorial%2BPoiana%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liviu Corneliu Babes Memorial in Poiana Brasov<br />Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before the Iron Curtain fell, on March 2, 1989, a citizen from Brasov, Liviu Corneliu Babes (1942-1989) skied down the mountain in Poiana Brasov. Wearing a sign protesting Ceausescu’s vicious regime, he told the whole world that Romania was a communist Auschwitz and then set himself on fire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I journeyed to Poiana Brasov to pay respects to Babes. A plaque commemorating his sacrifice (and erected by Mircea Brenciu and his organization) stood next to a small wood church. I went inside to pray for him and for my Dad and I encountered a young priest. I asked him about Liviu Babes and he let me know in direct language that the church considers him an apostate because suicide is not condoned. But his next words shocked me even more. He said that the church teaches the parishioners to obey the state and the government at all costs. I tried to reason with him by asking what he remembered from Ceausescu’s regime. This priest was barely 5 years old when Ceausescu was executed. He told me that he remembered long lines with his mom trying to buy food on rationing coupons, otherwise, he said, it was fine. I left speechless. His washed brain and twisted view of reality clashed terribly with historical facts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GwM8Q92wKjE/VXByGKDj8AI/AAAAAAAABr8/ANa46010YUY/s1600/Wood%2BChurch%2BPoiana%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GwM8Q92wKjE/VXByGKDj8AI/AAAAAAAABr8/ANa46010YUY/s320/Wood%2BChurch%2BPoiana%2BBrasov%2B5-21-15.jpg" width="240" /></a>Wood Church in Poiana Brasov</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a shame that there is no monument where one can pay their respects and light up a candle to the memory of those who fought against communism. Brasov gave their heroes who sacrificed for the European fight against communism. It is shameful, “people who don’t respect their past, have no future,” Brenciu explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I have a fear that we are going to lose our country,” Brenciu concluded. “I only see one solution, to bring back the institution of monarchy.” The people are disoriented and discouraged, he explained. “The biggest theft occurred under the ten-year rule of President Traian Basescu.” The Revolutionaries are supporting the new President, Klaus Johannis, the former mayor of Sibiu, but his success depends on the political class. Right now the country is terribly divided.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a saying that goes, “Our country is so beautiful, it is sad that it is inhabited.” We have so many simple and uneducated people who are easily manipulated by the mass-media, they are voting for the wrong people who control, lie, cheat, and steal. In exchange for a vote, bribes of 5, 10, 15 euros are paid and accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And schools are no longer teaching healthy values and morality. Democracy and freedom are understood as a lack of morals, honesty, personal responsibility, and as a culture of welfare dependency somewhat different from the communist culture of dependency where at least one had to pretend to work. “We are losing our national identity and it is deplorable.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Days after the interview I was mulling over the similarities between the fate of our countries in terms of purposeful destruction, curricular indoctrination, moral bankruptcy, banking corruption, crony capitalism, disinformation of the voting populace, and the endemic corruption of the ruling elites.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-rally-that-changed-history.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593535186743402256.post-7824330157493083270Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:20:00 +00002015-06-04T22:34:23.492-07:00arrivalcannabis teachocolateflightMay 2015RomaniaSwisstripA Freak Start to an Amazing Trip<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4aezwOR2Os/VW7ing4-E4I/AAAAAAAABq8/Tsvvxw9VHqs/s1600/Swiss%2BCannabis%2BTea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4aezwOR2Os/VW7ing4-E4I/AAAAAAAABq8/Tsvvxw9VHqs/s320/Swiss%2BCannabis%2BTea.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The plane was rocked violently on the tarmac at Dulles by a freak storm. The ten passengers and crew that had managed to board were wide-eyed, praying that the shaking of the Boeing 767 would stop soon and the boarding would resume. My husband was still in the terminal with the rest of the passengers. Lightning and wind gusts were so intense that boarding had been temporarily suspended.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The seven and a half hour flight to Zurich finally took off two and a half hours late amid scary dark clouds and soul-rattling sudden altitude drops. Fortunately, as we reached a cruising altitude of 39,000 feet, everything calmed down and we settled into a routine of getting up, stretching, bathroom trips, and watching movies for seven and half hours. I can’t sleep on planes; all my limbs go numb rather quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we arrived in Switzerland, we were greeted by a huge, modern, and empty airport unlike any airport in the U.S. Bored, with no Wi-Fi or book to read, I started looking for interesting things around me. I was not disappointed. The vending machines were selling Cannabis Ice Tea for 3 Swiss francs a large can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I bought a Swiss Army knife which would prove quite useful in the next two weeks and a couple of magnets for cousin Dragu which set me back almost $50 because the dollar was so weak against the Swiss franc and the credit card company had to get their lion’s share of exchange charges for generously allowing me to do business with them.&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A huge chocolate bar was calling my name. Who goes to or passes through Switzerland without buying the biggest chunk&nbsp;of chocolate one can find, an act of sheer visual greed since nobody can bite into the gargantuan bar without the help of a good knife. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We finally arrived in Bucharest the next day, almost 21 hours after we started our half way around the globe trek. But the entire flight time was only nine hours and 10 minutes. The Otopeni Airport seemed shinier – the international terminal had been completed since I was there three years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were elated that our luggage had made it and all suitcases arrived with us. A shower and clean clothes would become a reality soon. We headed to the Avis counter to claim our mid-sized car, a black, sporty, and spotless Ford Mondeo running on Diesel. We would find out soon enough that both gasoline and Diesel cost over $6 per gallon but the nice bonus was that attendants pumped the gas, a service that is lost in most states today. On the bright side, three years ago, Diesel was over $10 a gallon, and bio Diesel was $11 per gallon, so $6 seemed like a bargain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Romanian roads and the few designated parking spots, this Ford Mondeo was quite a large car, but it was just big enough to accommodate our luggage in the trunk, out of sight of potential thieves. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To mitigate for the lack of legal parking, intrepid Romanians double- and triple-park on sidewalks everywhere. I’ve never had to dodge traffic and cars on sidewalks in the U.S. but in Europe, it is common. Because many drivers carelessly blocked the exit of private garages, some owners posted signs that they would slash tires of anyone who obstructed their car exit and they meant it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The engine purred nicely but it shut off every time we stopped in traffic. This feature paid homage to the environmentalist wackos who want to save the planet from a non-existent anthropogenic global warming, while endangering the lives of drivers who must press the accelerator hard before the engine roars again to life and the car can move. The sport transmission feature certainly helped when climbing the Carpathian Mountains and when managing hair pin curves.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drive to Ploiesti flashed before my eyes long-ago forgotten memories of places, names, bridges, creeks, and fruit and vegetable stands lining up the main highway. Beautiful potted plants were decorating the fruit-laden trays. The May cherries were ripening just in time. The road was better paved and traffic police was seldom in sight. The GPS kept alerting us of electronic speed traps instead. James would tell us in a punctilious and robotic British accent to slow down. But nobody minds the speed limit as traffic rules are just laughable suggestions that no drivers take seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived at Ana’s house in the town of Ploiesti 50 km later, after getting lost numerous times, with the GPS telling us to go on non-existent roads, dead-ends, and closed roundabouts. With few traffic lights, we were in roundabout hell until we managed to learn the secret yield system, the meaning of hand gestures, and verbal cursing clues. The whole town was a construction site as the city planners had decided to dig up at the same time all the tram tracks and replace them with newer, more modern ones, paid for with EU funds. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light rail, trams, trolleys, and buses are certainly encouraged and imposed in most towns by the lack of parking for individual vehicles. And pay garages are not adequate in size. Any way elitists can remove people from their cars and put them into public transportation like sardines, money is no object, while they personally jet around the world to locales ordinary humans can only dream of. Their private planes, yachts, and huge homes apparently can leave a huge carbon footprint – do as they say not as they do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The town was dustier, dirtier, and more polluted than I remembered it. We drove by Brazi Refinery were my Dad used to work, now called Petrom. It was surrounded by green fields and the air appeared much cleaner than the air in town.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ana’s three-story villa was even cozier; her daughter had made some wonderful changes to the décor. Our room was slightly hot so we opened the windows to the city noise and smells, loud gypsy music piped from speakers across the street, the trolley buses running all night, the incessant barking of dogs, and the cock-a-doodle of a time-confused and pesky rooster.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We slept fitfully that night but were glad to be horizontal, even on a mattress whose coils were stabbing us in the back every time we moved. But the price was right; our accommodations were free and came with unconditional love of my Romanian family and Ana’s spectacular cooking. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A huge herd of stray dogs, at least thirty “maidanezi” as the Romanians call them, were having a major street fight right below our window around 3 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was home again, welcomed by the warm embrace of my family but missing tranquility and our home in Virginia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Be Continued<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></div>http://romanianconservative.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-freak-start-to-amazing-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (IleanaWrites)1